Vintage Stakes bid by Burj

Burj, winner of two of his four races, goes for the seven-furlong G2 Vintage Stakes on the first day of Glorious Goodwood, UK, Tuesday, 31 July.

The two-year-old’s initial three races were at six furlongs. He finished a promising third on debut in a maiden at Newbury on 18 May and then was the easy winner of a novice race on Tapeta at Wolverhampton, by six lengths on 6 June.

The colt raced prominently for a long time in the G2 Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot on 19 June, but faded to finish 20th of the 23 participants.

Last time out, Burj took part in a three-horse novice race over seven furlongs at Brighton on 10 July, which was slowly run, and led close home to win by a neck.

He meets 11 rivals in the Vintage Stakes and, drawn eight, is partnered again by his regular jockey Edward Greatrex. Rivals include two unbeaten contenders, Newbury novice race debut victor Confiding and dual winner Dark Vision.

His trainer Saeed bin Suroor commented: “Burj always works well and tries hard in his races.

“He deserves to step up in class again and meet better horses.

“Hopefully, he can run well.”

Saeed bin Suroor is also represented on the first day of Glorious Goodwood by Silver Line in the opening 15-runner handicap, 

Four-year-old Silver Line, partnered by apprentice Jason Watson, steps up significantly in trip for this handicap over nearly 10 furlongs. He has run consistently without winning this year, racing four times over six and seven furlongs in Dubai before being a fast-finishing third when stepping up to a mile on his European return in a Sandown handicap on 16 June

The trainer said: “Silver Line showed he needed this sort of trip on his most recent start.”

Saeed bin Suroor’s third and final runner on day one of Glorious Goodwood is two-year-old Dubawi colt Al Mureib, who ran promisingly on debut when second in a seven-furlong maiden at Newmarket on 13 July. 

Al Mureib, drawn 12, takes part in the six-furlong maiden, which has attracted 12 runners, and is ridden again by Pat Cosgrave.

Saeed bin Suroor added: “Al Mureib is in good form after his debut second.

“He worked well recently and dropping down a furlong should suit him.”