Mile Division

DELEGATOR-GB
Owner: Godolphin Racing, LLC
Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor
Pedigree: B.c.,3, by Dansili – Indian Love Bird, by Efisio

Positives: Delegator is another in a long list of powerful Goldolphin milers although he must now be considered a small cut below the best of his generation. He was impressive capturing the 8f Celebration Mile-G2 at Goodwood at the expense of Zacinto in August but he couldn’t quite take the next step when a weakening third to Rip Van Winkle and Zacinto in the subsequent 8f Queen Elizabeth II S.-G1 at Ascot the following month. His highest Racing Post rating (123) was achieved when narrowly beaten by Mastercraftsman in the St. James’s Palace-G1 at Royal Ascot in June and he was actually favored (3-1) over Sea the Stars in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket during the spring (he did finish second of 15). Like most top class European milers, he prefers to settle early and kick home late and if he’s held up and allowed to produce the last run, he could make some noise in the BC Mile, a race that figures to have the quick early fractions that he often doesn’t see at home.

Concerns: When push came to shove in the final furlong of the QEII at Ascot, Delegator bailed out. Save for his poor effort over heavy ground in the Irish 2000 Guineas, the son of Dansili had always produced a genuine performance but that willingness to compete seemed to abandon him in his most recent start. Maybe he’s a one run type but in the BC Mile there will be others who can kick home as well. Like, maybe, Goldikova.

Bottom Line: It’s not that Delegator is without merit — his two best races, the 8f Craven S-G3 (win) and the St. James’s Palace (second) were his only two starts on firm ground — but he’ll need to reproduce his very best form to have a winning chance in a race that looks exceptionally tough. Five of his nine career starts have been in Group-1 events and he has yet to bring one home. Perhaps Santa Anita’s top-of-the-ground turf will launch him to greater heights; a deep closing, trouble-free journey wouldn’t hurt, either.