Mark Johnston duo Lumiere and Buratino to drop in distance

Lumiere and Buratino, Mark Johnston's two Godolphin-owned Guineas disappointments, are set to return to sprinting at Royal Ascot.

There was plenty of confidence behind Lumiere after she had won the Cheveley Park Stakes on her final outing as a juvenile, so much so that she was sent off the second favourite for fillies' Classic.

However, despite needing to prove her stamina, she was beaten before that became an issue, trailing home last of the 16 runners.

"We feel she should go back to where we know she has excelled, and that is over a sprint distance," said John Ferguson, Godolphin's chief executive and racing manager.

"She will be entered for the Group One Commonwealth Cup, and probably also the Diamond Jubilee at Royal Ascot,"

Buratino shaped with a bit more promise through the 2000 Guineas but faded to finish ninth.

"He didn't stay, and therefore we feel the best target at the Royal meeting will be the Group One Commonwealth Cup, over six furlongs," said Ferguson.

"He is a course-and-distance winner (having won last year's Coventry Stakes),"

The one success story in the two Classics for Godolphin was Richard Fahey's Ribchester, who outran his odds to finish third in the 2000 Guineas.

"Ribchester has run really well for his third, and we are all delighted," Ferguson told www.godolphin.com.

"Richard would like to give him a little break now before coming back for Ascot (St James's Palace Stakes)."