Godolphin will not rush Sakhee

Sakhee will not be hurried back into action, Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford confirmed today.

The five-year-old won the Juddmonte International Stakes and the Prix de l`Arc de Triomphe last season before finishing a nose second to Tiznow in the Breeders` Cup Classic at Belmont.

He ran below his best when only third to Street Cry in the Dubai Word Cup in March but he looked well when having a six-furlong spin with Hatha Anna and a lead horse in Newmarket this morning.

Godolphin are now targeting the big prizes in the second half of the season for the son of Bahri.

Crisford said: 'There`s no rush with him. He`s going to be a second half of the season horse.

'We are in a pretty good position in that we can afford to hold some horses back for the second half as right now the focus is on the younger horses.

'After Royal Ascot the focus will be on the older horses and that`s were we traditionally come into our own.'

Crisford also confirmed that Grandera, who wonthe Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji in May, could also be kept back for a late season campaign.

'We`ll probably hold Grandera back for the second half of the season, he or Sakhee may be Eclipse types. What it means is missing Royal Ascot with a long term view in mind,' he said.

'We have a good battalion of older horses and what we are doing is right for those older horses.'

Crisford admitted that Godolphin`s usually strong team for Royal Ascot might not be up to their previous levels as a result.

Some of their two-year-olds have been performing under par and that, along with a long term view, may mean numbers of runners at the Royal meeting could be less than in previous seasons.

Crisford explained: 'Dubai Destination has not been confirmed but the plan is the St James Palace Stakes.

'We could have chances in the Queen Anne, Prince of Wales and Hardwicke Stakes, I think we will be considering those races.

'We will be light for two-year-olds though as they are looking like they need the race so I don`t think we will have many two-year-old runners.

'The three-year-olds depends on what happens at Epsom this weekend and they could then come into the equation.'