`No real stars` in Godolphin`s Ascot squad

Godolphin trainer Saeed Bin Suroor conceded today that his team for Royal Ascot next week will lack some of the strength of previous raiding parties.

The trainer, who has sent out a total of 17 winners at the meeting since his first in 1995, will have a total of about 15-18 horses at the five-day Festival, most of which will be ridden by stable jockey Frankie Dettori.

Bin Suroor nominated Best of The Bests (Queen Anne Stakes), Noverre (Prince of Wales`s Stakes) and Wareed (Gold Cup) as his best hopes for the week.

'This year we are a little weak with the three-year-olds,' he said.

'There is no Dubai Millennium or Fantastic Light among them. Sakhee still needs time and I have told Sheikh Hamdan that he won`t be ready for this meeting. Maybe we will see him in the Eclipse or perhaps the King George.

'Dubai Destination also has a problem but he will be back in three months.

'There is nothing wrong with the horses, we just don`t have any real stars. We have horses that can win conditions and Listed races but are just struggling in the Group Ones.'

Noverre steps up to a mile and a quarter having been outpointed by Keltos in the Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes on his last start.

'He is a different horse from last season and he has shown us that he needs this trip,' said Bin Suroor.

'Grandera could also run in that race. He is training very well and he is a tough horse but we will have to talk to the owner, Sheikh Maktoum.

'I think Wareed will run well in the Gold Cup.

'He was a little bit weak last year and we have given time. He is improving all the time and since he has come back to Newmarket from Dubai he is showing that he is better than he was before.

'He won well in France but he also showed that he needed this distance. He will also go any ground, fast or soft.'

Godolphin have Marienbard and Hatha Anna lined up for the Hardwicke Stakes while Three Points will be taking on the might of Caller One and Johannesburg in the Golden Jubilee Stakes.

'Frankie says that he has a lot of speed,' Bin Suroor said. 'In the past we haven`t had a really good sprinter with Godolphin but this horse is showing that maybe he will have the luck.'