Flat racing ~ Sunday 6th May

[Edberg]

9:35 Sha Tin (HK) SUN 6 MAY 2012 BMW CHAMPIONS MILE (GROUP 1) (3YO+) (TURF) (3yo+) Winner £568,579 Good 1m Number of runners: 14 CITYSCAPE 4pts to win @ 11/4 bog (William Hill, Paddy Power, Ladbrokes, Boylesports) I love this horse and it's getting better and better. He had been a good horse since his juvenile career but couldn't fulfill his high expectations Prince Abdullah and Roger Charlton had about him but finally flourished turning 4 in 2010 when he finished the season with a Listed win at Haydock and bolted up in the Nayef Joel Stakes (Group 3) at Newmarket in October (won by 7L), both races over 1m. He built on that form last year finishing 2nd behind Dick Turpin in the bet365 Mile at Sandown (Group 2) and 3rd behind Canford Cliffs and Goldikova (beaten 2.75L by the best miler seen in UK before Frankel in the last 10 years) in the Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1) at Royal Ascot (this third was surely his best ever effort in defeat) and he kept improving towards the end of the season winning a Group 3 at the Curragh, finishing second (a short head behind Dick Turpin) in the Premio Vittorio Di Capua (Group 1) at San Siro (Italy), winning a Group 3 at Saint Cloud and travelling to Hong Kong to finish second in the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Mile (Group 1) in December. That performance (over today's C&D of course) was a top-class one (he was just a 32/1 shot for that race) since he had a wide trip and was five horse-widths out turning home but still he showed an impressive quick finish and just missed the success. That performance came also on fast ground, something he was used to avoid in the past but he did handle it as well as he did in the past with soft/heavy grounds. After a short break this fantastic chestnut son of Selkirk made his debut at Dubai racing in the Dubai Duty Free (Group 1 over 1m1f) and was once again just an outsider (8/1) but proved all wrong showing he was a class above those 14 opponents winning by 4.25L ahead of Mutahadee who was the second favourite of that race carrying on the best 2012 Dubai Carnival form while the big favourite was the Hong Kong representative Ambitious Dragon (2/1F) who had won 10 of his 17 starts in HKG and was trying to prove he was the best in the world over the extended mile but failed and finished just 7th 8L behind Cityscape. What to add about this horse. He would have probably stayed in Europe racing in the best European races over 1m-1m2f but he's owned by the same owner of Frankle and so he's going back to HKG to prove his top-class status once again. It's been an improving horse so far so I cant' see him disappointing in a race where his main rivals are Ambitious Dragon who has the advantage of racing at home this time but was too far from Cityscape last time out in Dubai to think he can reverse that form now and African Story who won the Godolphin Mile (Gr 2) at Meydan during the World Cup night but has got a terrible draw here (he likes to stay close to the pace) and this is still a step up in class (deserved on the evidence of his nice last two successes in Dubai over 1m) for the Godolphin-owned 5yo.

[chris34]

Re: Flat racing ~ Sunday 6th May 5.10 Hamilton Typical decent staying handicap at Hamilton. Outragous Request hasnt been seen on the flat for sometime but did score off a 1lb higher mark in the past and could be well treated and atleast comes into this fit from hurdles but probably best watched back on the flat for now. Hong Kong Island is a consistent sort but on all his placed efforts he looks weighted upto his best and needed first run last year. Jeu De Vivra has a good record around here with 3 from 4 here. She may still have a little more to offer but is 7lb higher than last win and a slight concern she hasnt come back in the same form based on 2 efforts so far this year, fibresand possible excuse last time out but has something to prove for now with ground starting to perhaps get a little bit quick. Getabuzz was last seen finishing 2nd behind Jeu De Vivre over CD and is now in reciept of 9lb for 4 lengths which may well be enough to turn that form around but yard very hit and miss currently and gone very quiet over last few days and needed the run last year. How anyone can have Marhaba Malyoon as a 3/1 favourite in their book is beyond me, he won a maiden as a 2yr old on debut and that form got a very shakey look to it with the 2nd failing to win. Drop in the deep end last year in Derby Trial at Lingfield and then the Derby itself but hard to be confident about on handicap debut having been off the track so long and all racing has been done on fast ground and can only be watched at this sort of price. Sprit Of A Nation might be worth taking a risk on based on the fact he raced only 3 days ago, that was his seasonal debut (had run over hurdles over the winter without any success) he stayed on very strongly and should be well suited to the extra furlong here and extra stamina required here and remains on a good mark based on his best form having won off a mark as high as 80 off just 75 today. 1pt win Spirit Of A Nation 7/1 pp 5.45 Hamilton Just a brief one, Pinball is a horse that continues to frustrate me he clearly has plenty of ability and is very much all about speed but he can be very quirky and throw away his races at the start. Yard appear in good form and is on a workable mark if ready to go after winter. Won fresh year before last and handles cut in the ground and with useful apprentice jock taking off 3lb he may cause a small upset in this poor and wide open handicap. 0.5pt e/w Pinball 14/1 bet365