Delegator connections to test ideal distance at Meydan

The six year old has been entered for seven-furlong race in an effort to gauge whether he is truly a sprinter or a miler like his sire, Dansili.

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.