Godolphin horse Encke set for return after drug ban

The Godolphin stable have announced that some of their horses banned from racing due to the Mahmood Al Zarooni scandal will return to action soon.

Among them is former St Leger winner Encke who will go back into training with Charlie Appleby in Newmarket, with the intention of running in Europe later this year.

In all, 22 former Al Zarooni-trained horses were suspended from racing between April and October last year after testing positive for banned anabolic steroids.

Al Zarooni was banned for eight years by the British Horseracing Authority in April.

Both Steeler, who joined Godolphin from Mark Johnston after finishing third in the 2012 Racing Post Trophy and Certify, who was unbeaten as a juvenile in 2012, are intended runners during the 2014 Dubai World Cup Carnival which starts at Meydan on Thursday.

Racing manager Simon Crisford told the Godolphin website: "We decided recently to continue with some of the horses who did not race last year.

"They include current entries Artigiano and Steeler plus Certify, who will be aimed at the top fillies' contests during the Carnival.

"Encke is also in training and will go for races in Europe later in the year."