Sullivan to be given a break
Gerard Butler will give Jack Sullivan a well-earned rest before preparing his globe-trotting charge for the major races later in the summer.
The five-year-old finished a respectable third behind impressive Japanese raider Utopia in the Group Two Godolphin Mile at Nad Al Sheba on Saturday
But even though the Oxfordshire-handler admits he was beaten by a very good horse, the gelding had suffered a slight setback in the lead up to the race which could have contributed to his defeat.
“He’s come out of the race fine,” said Butler from Dubai. “I washed him this morning and he seems OK, I think he was just beaten by a very smart horse on the day.
“He’s put up a very good performance and we are very proud of him.
“I’m not of the opinion that he needs 10 furlongs yet. His first race in Dubai this year was over a mile and he showed an awful lot of speed.
“We had a very small hiccup with him two weeks ago and whether he was 100% on the night I’m not quite sure as he hasn’t quite run up to his best.
“I think a mile is his best trip but maybe next year we will come back and tackle a mile and a quarter with him.
“The winner was very impressive. When you look at the fractions he covered early in the race and for him then to kick on again shows it was a very good performance.
“The horse just behind us in fourth, Marbush, is very smart on dirt and he couldn’t get near him.
“Jack comes home on April 2 and we will give him some time off before aiming him at the Diomed at Epsom on Derby Day or we may take him to Goodwood at the end of July.
“He will have a couple of months off and we will see how he is.”
Butler also had news of the stable’s standing dish Nayyir after his luckless run in the Winter Derby at Lingfield.
“I haven’t seen him for a few days but when I get back we will plan a campaign for him,” he said.
“The priority will be to pick a race where we think he can get his head in front but we will take it one day at a time with him.”
