International Racing Festival: Topkapi Trophy heads the Sunday card

William Haggas now trains Master of Hounds.
Timeform's Matt Gardner turns his attention to the second day of the International Racing Festival, featuring both the Topkapi Cup and the Bosphorus Cup...
A field of 11 runners have been declared for the 2012 renewal of the Topkapi Trophy, with four of them being British representatives. Heading the list is Master of Hounds, who ran a career-best on his penultimate start when landing the Group 1 Jebel Hatta at Meydan before finishing eighth in the Dubai World Cup. He has since moved to the William Haggas yard and, if he can return to the sort of form shown in Dubai, he is likely to take plenty of beating here.
Another of note is the Mark Johnston-trained representative Van Ellis, a three-year-old who has won three of his last four starts comprising two handicaps and a listed event. Needless to say this is a step up in grade, but his willing attitude counts for plenty and he could put up a bold showing.
Archbishop, who dead-heated in a Goodwood Group 3 on his latest start, and Red Duke are others to consider, although they are both going to have to improve to challenge Master of Hounds.
Pakal and Indomito will fly the flag for Germany whilst Lucky Bridle looks set to be the sole French representative.
Just six have been declared for the Group 2 Bosphorus Cup, a race staged over 12 furlongs won last year by the James Given-trained Indian Days. Turkish representative Inspector has contested this event for the last four years, finishing first, sixth, eighth and eighth respectively, and is unlikely to be getting much better at the grand old age of eight.
The sole British-trained runner, Retrieve, has form some way in advance of his rivals having finished fourth in a competitive handicap at Goodwood last time and fifth in a particularly strong renewal of the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot earlier in the season.
His main rival is likely to be Flamingo Fantasy, a seven-year-old trained in Germany. Flamingo Fantasy pup up one of his better efforts on his most recent start, when finishing fifth to Joshua Tree in the Group 2 Prix Kergorlay at Deauville, but, in all probability, he will need to improve to trouble Retrieve.
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