Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap 2011

10.39 Belmont Park

Woodford Reserve Manhattan Handicap (Grade 1) (3yo+) (Turf) (3yo+) Winner £153,846

Pick: Gio Ponti (win)

Mission Approved: Made Gio Ponti pull out all the stops when allowed to dictate a steady pace in the Man O’War Stakes here last season, and not seen since; That form would obviously make him tough to beat but this test whole different proposition and may not been seen to best effect.

Wishful Tomcat:  Has won four of six grass starts; Genuine, consistent and successful at a lower level than today’s but well held in the Empire Classic (Dirt) latest & hard to fancy given his spare record in top company.

Bold Hawk: Didn’t race between 2007 and 2010 because of a variety of ailments, having won the Grade 3 Hawthorne Derby at 3; Not been seen too much of late and has to prove he retains his ability.

Windward Islands: Versatile / Classy; Been consistently close in top-class races, having won the Grade 2 Nijinsky Stakes  last July, and comes off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Elkhorn in April at Keeneland; Will improve for that and likely to take a hand in this race if at the same form which saw him third to Redwood in the Canadian International.

Gio Ponti: Absolutely top class, one of best turf horses in recent US Racing history; Possibly not as good last year as he was in 2009 (in comparison with penultimate year, when he was second only to Zenyatta in Breeders’ Cup Classic); Second to Goldikova in Breeders’ Cup Mile was cracking effort (best in field) & Dubai World Cup was far too slowly run for him, and this his best opportunity for some time.

Al Khali: Shaped like the best horse in the race but far when a dreadfully unlucky fourth in Canadian International (behind Windward Islands), failing to get a run on the inside and travelling over the track for the last 2 furlongs; Not backed that up in three subsequent starts and feeling is that he’s flattered by the effort.

Viscount Nelson: Improved with time last year, finishing close up in the Irish Guineas and Prix Ju Jockey Club before almost catching Twice Over in the Eclipse Stakes; Disappointing on seasonal return but that rectified with classy success in Listed event last time (eased to come home with lot to spare); Can go close here and trainer has excellent record with turf challengers.

 Prince Will I Am: Made Grade 1 debut success in Jamaica Handicap (won going away having come widest of all) & not run a bad race since, his Breeders Cup Marathon second having been the best effort; That said, he was short of pace when last seen over 10 furlongs and this, in a higher grade will probably be too quick for him.

Bim Bam: Beat Interactif in the Hallandale Beach Stakes at start of his 2010 season, and won a stakes race at Calder in 11 starts (also runner-up four times last year for trainer David Brownlee); Not found anything close to that form and overmatched in this.

Straight Story: Managed to get the better of a tight verdict in the Fort Marcy last time out but no wins at this trip and no wins in Grade 1 company, so others preferred.

VERDICT: Hopes will be high for yet another successful European raid and Viscount Nelson has excellent claims (with his chances unaffected by any rain) but he may bump into one unusually good for the level in GIO POINTI, without question the best US turf horse of recent years.