Delegator connections to test ideal distance at Meydan



Godolphin may have little to worry them at the moment after dominating racing at Meydan Racecourse last week, but the puzzling efforts of Delegator in Europe last season is something that the Dubai-based organisation are hoping to put right tomorrow.

The six year old has been entered in the Range Rover Evoque Trophy over seven furlongs at Meydan in an effort to gauge whether he is truly a sprinter or a miler like his sire, Dansili.

The bay chased home Sea The Stars in the English 2000 Guineas over a mile in 2009 and followed that up with a fine second in the Group 1 St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.

He has not hit such heights in 10 subsequent runs.

Delegator was tried at sprinting distances last season after showing enough speed in his races late in 2010 following an interrupted season because of sore shins.

Saeed bin Suroor, his trainer, was keen to keep his charge at six furlongs after a strong win in the Group 2 Duke Of York Stakes in England in May, but a winless campaign, which culminated in 14th place in the Group 1 Sprint Cup in September, has forced a rethink.

"He is not a natural sprinter and this is a good trip for him. He could easily step up to a mile later on. His best form was in the Guineas and a mile is no problem for him," Simon Crisford, Godolphin's racing manager, said.

Godolphin will be represented in Thursday's feature, the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort, by another stable stalwart in bin Suroor's seven-year-old Rio De La Plata, who will run alongside stablemate Do It All and Mahmood Al Zarooni's Time Prisoner.

The operation's exciting Australian recruit, Dysphonia, has also been declared for Friday's Group 2 Balanchine.

The currency conundrum

Russ Mould, investment director at online trading platform AJ Bell, says almost every major currency has challenges right now. “The US has a huge budget deficit, the euro faces political friction and poor growth, sterling is bogged down by Brexit, China’s renminbi is hit by debt fears while slowing Chinese growth is hurting commodity exporters like Australia and Canada.”

Most countries now actively want a weak currency to make their exports more competitive. “China seems happy to let the renminbi drift lower, the Swiss are still running quantitative easing at full tilt and central bankers everywhere are actively talking down their currencies or offering only limited support," says Mr Mould.

This is a race to the bottom, and everybody wants to be a winner.

If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.

When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets