Deloraine seeks another leap forward in G3 Gazelle Stakes

Improving filly Deloraine hopes to secure a first Graded Stakes win in the G3 Gazelle Stakes at Aqueduct, USA, on Saturday, 5 April.

The Candy Ride homebred returns to dirt having stayed on well to grab third in last month’s G3 Florida Oaks on turf at Tampa Bay Downs.

Deloraine’s two victories to date have come in a Tapeta maiden and a turf allowance race, although the Eoin Harty-trained three-year-old finished third in the Suncoast Stakes on dirt in February.

Michael Banahan, Director of Bloodstock, Godolphin USA, said: “Deloraine has improved all winter since breaking her maiden, including a G3 placing last time out in a very competitive renewal of the Florida Oaks. Eoin has been very happy with her progress.

“This is an ideal opportunity for her to try and break through at the Graded level as there are no Stakes winners in the field. She is probably a little better on the grass than dirt, but it is worth taking a shot.”