Shalaa and Jack Hobbs set to return next month

John Gosden is preparing to return Shalaa and Jack Hobbs, two of his stars of 2015, to the track in the coming days with former top juvenile Shalaa lined up for a comeback from a year off as early as next week.

The leading British-based two-year-old of last year, Shalaa was being prepared for a tilt at the Group 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot when he sustained a stress fracture to his pelvis in early April, but he is now on the brink of a return with the Group 2 Qipco British Champions Sprint at Ascot on October 15 his big autumn target.

After watching the two-time Group 1 winner work under Frankie Dettori on the Limekilns on Wednesday, Gosden said: "Shalaa did a nice piece of work over five and a half furlongs on the turf this morning and all roads lead to Qipco Champions Day with him. We may well look to run him in the Group 3 Bengough Stakes at Ascot on Saturday week as a prep. It makes sense as it's two weeks before the Champion Sprint."