Elzaam can get back on track, insists happy Richard Hills

Class act: connections are confident that Elzaam can win tomorrow’s TNT July Stakes at Newmarket
Simon Milham13 April 2012

Richard Hills is hopeful that Elzaam, who was narrowly beaten at Royal Ascot last month, can make amends in tomorrow's TNT July Stakes at Newmarket.

Elzaam was touched off on the line by the fast-finishing Strong Suit in the six-furlong Coventry Stakes, having previously won a York maiden in style on his debut.

Hills said: "We were very unlucky at Ascot but Elzaam has come out of the race extremely well and has been working nicely since.

"Although it was a tight finish, I didn't feel like I won. Elzaam took a while to get into his stride and I had to stoke him up. He doesn't want to be in front for too long and the problem was the winner came at him very quickly and he didn't have time to respond.

"I'm confident that he can make amends tomorrow. He's a nice horse to look forward to next year but don't be misled - he's a proper two-year-old already."

The Michael Jarvis-trained Elzaam faces a select quartet in the Group Two contest. They include Libranno, who is in the care of Strong Suit's trainer Richard Hannon, and Norfolk Stakes winner Approve.

William Haggas, Approve's trainer, said: "Unfortunately we have to carry a Group Two penalty, so it means he has to give Elzaam 3lb, which will be difficult. He's a tough and genuine horse and I'm a firm believer that the more races he has, the better he is."

The field is completed by Godolphin pair Neebras and Marston Moor, who will be making his racecourse debut.

Sir Michael Stoute, who revealed yesterday that champion jockey Ryan Moore will continue the Derby-winning partnership with Workforce in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot on 24 July, saddles Spanish Moon in tomorrow's Group Two Princess Of Wales's Sportingbet.com Stakes.

Spanish Moon, who is also owned by Prince Khalid Abdulla, was last seen in action on these shores in November 2008 after some antics at the stalls.

Stoute's six-year-old has since proved himself well worthy of a place in any Group One event, having been placed in the last two Dubai Sheema Classics as well as finishing second in the valuable Hong Kong Vase.

He can now resume his career in England and France is also in the thoughts of his connections.

Lord Grimthorpe, the Prince's racing manager, said: "We're in the happy position of being blessed with some very good mile-and-a-half horses, so we're going to have to sort out which horses will go for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe [in October]. Certainly, Spanish Moon is a contender."

Spanish Moon meets seven rivals on his first appearance since going down by a length to Dar Re Mi in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.

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