Melbourne Cup winner Dunaden has finished third on his return in the Group Two Jockey Club Stakes at Newmarket.
The 2000m race was run on soft ground with Al Kazeem claiming victory by 4-1/2 lengths over Quest For Peace with Dunaden another 1-1/4 lengths away.
“He was a bit fresh. He showed very good acceleration two furlongs (400m) out but just needed a blow in the final half-furlong,” Dunaden’s trainer Mikel Delzangles said.
“We will see how he is before we make a plan.”
Al Kazeem is to be given his chance at a Group One with the Coronation Cup at Epsom on the agenda for the Roger Charlton-trained four-year-old.
“James (Doyle) said he got tired going up the hill, but it was a very pleasing win as he had only run on that ground once before,” Charlton said.
“One hopes that a horse as good-looking as him will improve from three to four, and it looks as if he has unless there was an excuse with the others.
“That was a good performance and we’ll be looking at Group One races such as the Coronation Cup.”
Dunaden’s third came a few days after Melbourne Cup runner-up Red Cadeaux finished second on his 2012 return.
