Sylvester De sousa keeps faith in Morando

Silvestre De Sousa believes Morando can make his presence felt at the highest level, granted the right conditions.

The seven-year-old won the Ormonde Stakes on soft ground at Chester last year, but struggled to replicate that form on quicker ground through the summer months before a return to easier ground in the autumn saw him hit the target again in the Cumberland Lodge.

De Sousa ranks Andrew Balding’s inmate highly, but thinks easy going is essential for him to show his best.

He told Sky Sports Racing: “He’s a brilliant horse. He loves soft going and it’s been a shame we didn’t have the start of the season and what he’s looking for with the coronavirus.

“It’s frustrating, but he’s a nice horse – I think a lot of him and Andrew thinks a lot of him as well. I think there will be a big day in him in those Group One races at some point.

“He’s a top horse. We have so many good horses but he’s one at the top of the list.

I think (he needs soft ground to show his best). He’s a horse that can’t open his stride when it’s good or quick ground, so he needs soft ground. I think we’ll get the best of him on soft ground and bottomless ground could be even better.

“In my opinion he’s a proper soft ground horse.”

De Sousa is also aiming high with Fox Chairman, who suffered a troubled passage when second in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot before lifting the Steventon Stakes at Newbury.

He added: “We didn’t (get a great run) but at the same time he had every chance and he’s a good horse.

“We have a good team for this year of four year olds so we just hope racing comes back soon and we can see all those horses coming out.

“He’s a nice horse, he ran top races last year and I think we could pinch a big one this year with him.”