Shawanda Set For Royal Return

Shawanda, who was last seen finishing sixth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the Aga Khan, is on course to make her Godolphin debut at Royal Ascot.

The four-year-old filly was pencilled in to return in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh on May 28 but a setback has delayed her reappearance.

'Shawanda is heading to Royal Ascot first time out as she picked up a foot problem in Dubai and it nagged her a little bit longer than we thought, so that ruled her out of the Tattersalls Gold Cup,' explained Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.

'So now we will be looking at the Hardwicke or Prince Of Wales's Stakes for her.'

Crisford also outlined plans for two more Godolphin stars.

He said: 'Electrocutionist is Prince Of Wales's-bound. He'll start off there.

'With Proclamation we are looking at the Lockinge as a starting point before the Queen Anne for him.'

Since their return from Dubai, Godolphin have yet to notch a win from six runners, with Opera Cape's last of 14 in the Stan James 2000 Guineas particularly disappointing.

'It wasn't the best start, we were disappointed overall with the horses,' Crisford said.

'Opera Cape was very disappointing. We thought he'd run a much bigger race than he did. We certainly weren't expecting him to win but we were hoping he might be good enough to finish fourth and his two-year-old form gave us every reason to believe that.

'He's come back fine, no real excuses and we'll try him back soon enough and see how we get on with him then.

'Silca's Sister ran her race to finish fourth (in the 1000 Guineas), she ran a good race, she's a very honest and tough filly.

'We slightly felt that the ground didn't really suit her as well as we thought it might have suited her and she'll go for the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot.

'But some of the purchased horses we have are looking very well and we are looking forward to running them.'

? PA Sport