Ground The Key To Benbaun Bid

Mark Wallace will monitor ground conditions at Ascot before deciding whether to let Benbaun take his chance in the John Guest Diadem Stakes tomorrow.

The son of Stravinsky has enjoyed a fruitful campaign, winning three times in Group Three company at the Curragh.

Wallace believes his stable star is operating at a career-best level and is keen to run him once more in Britain this season ? but says he will not risk the six-year-old on soft ground.

'He's come out of his Curragh race really well and it looks like we won't get his ground in Paris next weekend (in the Prix de l'Abbaye),' said the Newmarket handler.

'Obviously, today's rain is a bit of a concern as ideally he doesn't want it too soft. Good ground would be fine as it wasn't really fast when he won over at the Curragh earlier in the year.

'We'll keep an eye on the weather and speak to a few of the jockeys.'

Benbaun has gained eight of his 11 career successes over the minimum trip but Wallace believes he is equally effective over the six-furlong Diadem distance.

'It doesn't really matter as he's a strong traveller and he's a better horse this year,' he continued.

'He's in good form and we'd like him to have one more run ? either here or in France. He'll then have a spell off and go over to Hong Kong.

'But if the ground isn't right we'll wait for that as we'll look after him.

'He's a good one and could be just as good next year.'

Benbaun was today declared along with 19 others for the Group Two sprint, which was taken by subsequent Sprint Cup hero Red Clubs in 2006.

Among the notable contenders this year are Peter Chapple-Hyam's Al Qasi, Stewards' Cup winner Zidane and the Luca Cumani-trained Balthazaar's Gift.

Of the latter, Cumani said: 'Balthazaar's Gift has enjoyed Ascot in the past as demonstrated by his win in the Hackwood Stakes and goes into the Diadem in top form.

'He is particularly well and we are hopeful of a big run because we are hoping to take him to the Prix de l'Abbaye on Arc day,' he told www.lucacumani.com.

'Jimmy Fortune has ridden him before and is in tune with the way the horse likes to run his race.'

(C) PA Sport