Calyx Plotting Autumn Comeback

Calyx Plotting Autumn Comeback

Prince Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe remains hopeful that star sprinter Calyx will be back on the racetrack in the Autumn.

Last year's impressive Coventry Stakes winner made a winning return earlier in the season in the Pavilion Stakes at Ascot in May.

The three-year-old son of Kingman looked a strong candidate for the Commonwealth Cup back at the Berkshire venue in June after skipping the step-up in the Guineas, but his progress was blighted after a first career defeat at Haydock.

A pastern injury soon followed for John Gosden's star after the defeat to Kevin Ryan's Hello Youmzain, subsequently ruling him out of the summer festivals.

Although he still holds an entry in the Qatar Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, connections are more than likely to revoke it and delay his comeback.

(Credit: AtTheRaces) Grimthorpe said: “There are no real new updates on Calyx, but he is fine and is with John Gosden.

“He won’t be out until the autumn at the earliest.

“We very much hope to have him back on track before the end of the season, though.”

The Qatar Sussex Stakes is run over a mile, and although bred to stay eight furlongs from his St James's Palace winning sire, sprinting distances certainly seem Calyx's preference and game.

John Gosden is also well represented in the Group One contest on the Sussex Downs, with King Of Comedy and Too Darn Hot - who bounced back to form in the Prix Jean Prat at Deauville on Sunday, currently heading the stable's charge.

Meanwhile, a step up in class looks next on the list for Britannia Stakes winner Biometric, who sports Abdullah's silks, but is trained by Ralph Beckett.

Biometric nabbed Turgenev in the Class Two Heritage Handicap over a mile at the royal meeting; the race where Frankie was bidding for his fifth win in a row on the day.

Connections of the horse decided to not run Biometric in the Listed Edmondson Hall Solicitors Sir Henry Cecil Stakes at Newmarket this weekend, and have alternative plans for the three-year-old going forward.

Grimthorpe added: “Biometric is fine – he just needs a bit more time to get over Ascot.

“He had quite a tough race at Ascot, and Ralph thought it was better to give him more time.

“He has a number of options, and we will look at Listed and Group Three races for him.”