Godolphin eye the American dollar

The lure of the dollar is proving more tempting than the pound and the euro for some of Europe's star horses following the news that both Sulamani and Hold That Tiger are to be targetted at major prizes in the United States this autumn.

Godolphin have changed tack with their stable star Sulamani, who was no bigger than 5-1 to atone for his unlucky second in last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but will now contest the Turf Classic Invitational at Belmont Park on 27 September instead.

It also emerged today that Aidan O'Brien has had a change of heart over Hold That Tiger, who aims to repair his bruised reputation by taking on the star American dirt performer Mineshaft in the $500,000 Woodward Stakes at Belmont on 6 September. Ladbrokes responded to the news of Sulamani's American campaign by cutting the French Derby hero Dalakhani from 5-2 to 9-4 for the Arc on 5 October, while Godolphin spokesman Simon Crisford conceded that Sheikh Mohammed's globetrotting team could now go unrepresented in a race they have won for the last two years.

He said: "At the moment I can't see anything in our stable for the Arc, but there is plenty to look forward to this autumn and the Turf Classic gives Sulamani an extra week before his main objective in the Breeders' Cup Turf at Santa Anita on 25 October."

Hold That Tiger excelled himself in last year's Breeders' Cup to finish third in the Juvenile, and connections are hoping that a return to racing on dirt will help revive him after three defeats on turf in Britain this season.

Coolmore spokesman Demi O'Byrne told America's Daily Racing Form that "there is a strong possibility that Hold That Tiger will come for the Woodward."

He added: "He ran very well for fourth in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and plenty of people felt he could have finished a lot closer."

Meanwhile, officials at Ascot have cleared an important hurdle in their quest to create the most modern racecourse in Europe by gaining planning permission for a proposed £180 million redevelopment which will see the Royal meeting move to York in 2005."

Initial plans to build a hotel on the site have had to be shelved due to local objections, but Ascot spokesman Nick Smith described the result of last night's Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead planning meeting as "very encouraging".

He added: "We were granted outline planning permission for the revised scheme unanimously. It now goes to the next stage, which involves consideration at the office of the Deputy Prime Minister, but we hope to start a total rebuild as soon as our Flat racing programme ends in October 2004
Latest Arc betting (Ladbrokes): 9-4 Dalakhani, 4 High Chaparral, 8 Kris Kin, 10 Islington, Ange Gabriel, 14 Super Celebre, 16 bar.

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