Campanologist makes a second successive appearance in an Italian Group One race when he contests the Gran Premio di Milano at Milan's San Siro racecourse today. "Campanologist was a little disappointing on his latest start in Italy but the ground was too soft for him and I am hoping that he will encounter a faster surface," Saeed bin Suroor, the Godolphin trainer, said of the five-year-old's fourth-place performance at the Premio Presidente della Repubblica last month.
"He won well in Dubai at the start of the year (a neck victory in Group Two race in March) and the mile-and-a-half trip suit him well. "It's tough to win a Group One race but Campanologist goes to Italy in good heart and I am hoping to see him run a good race." Frankie Dettori will ride Campanologist in the horse's 22nd racecourse appearance this evening in a field of 10. Emerald Commander makes his seasonal return for bin Suroor in the Group Three Prix Paul de Moussac over a mile at Chantilly, France, today.
The three-year-old Pivotal colt drops down in class after ending his juvenile campaign with an excellent second in the mile Group One Criterium International at Saint-Cloud in November, when he kept on well to finish four lengths behind Jan Vermeer on soft turf. "Emerald Commander has been working well and this looks a good starting point for his season," said bin Suroor. "He ran a sound race in Group One company on his final juvenile appearance and he has the class to run well in a Group Three contest, although he will improve for his first start of the campaign." Mickael Barzalona takes the ride on Emerald Commander for the first time
Godolphin is also represented in the Prix Paul de Moussac by Chasing Halos, who is trained by Andre Fabre and races in the beige silks of Godolphin France. Maxime Guyon partners Chasing Halos. The Godolphin pair line up against six colts in the race.
* Agency
