Gladiatorus skips Sussex Stakes

Royal Ascot flop Gladiatorus will miss Glorious Goodwood in preference to an overseas assignment in August.Godolphin's four-year-old colt was pencilled in to run in the BGC Sussex Stakes on July 29 following his lacklustre showing in the Queen Anne Stakes. But trainer Saeed bin Suroor will instead send Gladiatorus for either the Arlington Million in Chicago or the Prix Jaques le Marios at Deauville.Racing manager Simon Crisford told www.godolphin.com: "We decided Gladiatorus needed more time until his next race. He is quite likely to run in the Arlington Million but, if he doesn't travel to the USA, he will be aimed at the Jacques le Marois."Sheikh Mohammed's team have further bolstered their ranks with the purchase of American colt Atomic Rain.The son of Smart Strike recently hacked up in the Long Branch Stakes at Monmouth Park."We have purchased Atomic Rain to race in Dubai this winter, but we will make a decision shortly with regard to his more immediate future," added Crisford.