King's Bishop Stakes 2011

10.12 Saratoga

Foxwoods King´s Bishop (Grade 1) (3yo) (Dirt) (3yo) Winner £96,154

Advice: 1 pt win Flashpoint (7/2 Coral)

Flashpoint: Brilliant in winning back-to-back starts to open the year going gate-to-wire to win by 6 ¼ lengths at Aqueduct, before then sprinting clear to a 7 ¼-length victory in 1:22 for seven furlongs in the Hutcheson Stakes; Not quite up to winning the Florida Derby, when he was taken on for the lead and presumably outstayed over 10f trip, and same story in Preakness; Back to best when winning Jersey Shore Stakes last time and can go well here.

Caleb’s Posse: A ready winner of the Amsterdam Handicap retuned to sprinting for the first time since last November, under a big weight as well; Should get a hot pace to run at as well, which makes him a big threat.

Runflatout: Another speedster who was only beaten a head in the Memorial Stakes after breaking his maiden on the Santa Anita dirt in his debut back in January, and just beaten a head by Coil as well, although that form can’t be read literally; Could go well.

Dominus: Sent off favourite for the Jim Dandy Stakes off the back of a front running Grade 2 win at Belmont, and drop in trip should really be a plus point; Rates a big threat here around 1 turn, another change which should suit; Possibly overpriced at 10’s.

Poesidon’s Warrior: Cruised past the leaders three wide on the far turn en route to a striking seven-length win in the colt division of the NATC Futurity, and is worth a step up in class for his Graded Stakes debut; Could go well but others preferred.

Justin Phillip: Set hot fractions (22.23s, 44.45s, had rivals beaten before turning into the stretch) when winning in the mud on Belmont Day but didn’t back that up behind Caleb’s Posse when well beaten last time out and needs more.

Uncle Mo: Threated to be a Triple Crown contender when following up Champagne Stakes victory with rousing Breeders Cup juvenile success by four lengths; Exciting reappearance seemed to confirm him having trained on until disappointing run in Wood Memorial, after which he was found to have serious illness (cholangiohepatitis, a bacterial disease of the liver); This acid test of his ability after a long break.

Cool Blue Red Hot: Broke his maiden in a 1 1/16-mile allowance race at Belmont before a third in the Dwyer Stakes; No reasons why he should reverse the form with Dominus.

VERDICT: All attention will be focused on the returning star Uncle Mo but this is no easy task even if he’s at his best and FLASHPOINT may be able to expose any flaws in the favourite. Granted, he would need to get to the lead but he’s shown more than enough pace to do so and was right back to his best when romping the Jersey Shore Stakes last time. Caleb’s Posse, Dominus and Runflatout also make appeal.