CONNECTIONS of Wiltshire-trained Dubawi Gold are considering a variety of options for their charge following his creditable third in the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury.

The Richard Hannon-trained four-year-old proved no match for the brilliant Frankel, finishing nine lengths behind Sir Henry Cecil's star and four lengths adrift of second-placed Excelebration.

Dubawi Gold has finished behind either Frankel or Excelebration on six occasions so far and his team are understandably keen to avoid clashing with either of those rivals again.

Tim Jones, racing manager for owner Andrew Tinkler, said: "He came out of the Lockinge in great form and we're just going to weigh up the options for him.

"The good thing was he ran right up to his best again which was good to see after he disappointed on that heavy ground at Sandown the time before.

"We have got all sorts of options for him. He's entered in the Queen Anne and the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot, the July Cup and we have also been talking about the Maurice de Gheest over seven furlongs.

"Obviously the distances range from a mile to six furlongs and we will be looking at all the Group One options for him, but we would like to avoid Frankel and Excelebration.

"We will be looking at it over the next couple of weeks and we might try to give him a confidence booster and let him get his head in front in another race before his next Group One engagement.

"The aim is to win a Group One with him this year, wherever that may be."

Hannon and Tinkler had toyed with the idea of switching up to middle distances but Jones believes that plan has now been shelved.

Jones said: "If we did step up to middle distances, we would probably meet Frankel again.

"He might be more effective over seven furlongs but we don't believe there is a great deal to be achieved beyond a mile."

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