World Racing 
/ Timeform / 03 September 2011 / Leave a Comment 
Saeed Bin Suroor sends a strong team to the Turkey International Festival
"Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance..."
The valuable International Festival takes place at Veliefendi racecourse in Turkey this weekend. A strong British contingent will line up across the course of the two days for an action-packed meeting at Istanbul, and you can bet on the big races with Betfair...
Racing gets underway on Saturday, and the first feature of the afternoon is the International Istanbul Trophy, a Group 2 contest run over a mile set to take place at 17:00 BST.
Saeed bin Suroor's Antara landed the Princess Elizabeth Stakes at Epsom for a second consecutive season back in June and looks to have a good chance, but she will face stiff competition, including from Mick Channon's Music Show, who won the Group 1 Falmouth Stakes last year. Although she has disappointed on all three starts this season, it's not hard to see her bouncing back.
The British challenge in the Istanbul Trophy is completed by Tom Dascombe's Rhythm of Light, who improved this season to take the Sandringham Handicap at Ascot back in June. She has disappointed in two subsequent starts but had excuses for her latest showing.
The Anatolia Trophy is a Group 2 contest run over ten furlongs and is the second feature on Saturday (19:00 BST).
Saeed bin Suroor sends over Emirates Champion, who was the winner of two handicaps at the Dubai Carnival at Meydan back in March. After a break, he looked in need of the run when sixth in a listed race at Sandown in July, but a return to his best will see him go close. Mark Johnston's Dordogne and George Baker's Belgian Bill are also among the entries, but they look to have something to find.
The Bosphorous Cup is the highlight on Sunday afternoon in Turkey (due off 14:00 BST), and Britain once again fielding a strong team. James Given's Indian Days, winner of the race in 2010, heads the charge, and he is joined by another former winner, Mick Channon's Halicarnassus, who finished just fourth last year.
Campanologist and Frankie Dettori also team up having produced a career best in the Tattersalls Gold Cup earlier in the season and they cannot be discounted. Completing the British entries is Luca Cumani's Afsare.
The final feature race of the weekend is the Topkapi Trophy, (15:30 BST) on Sunday, and it looks the most open contest of the four races covered.
Andrew Balding's Dream Eater and Saeed bin Suroor's Invisible Man have been slightly below thieir best of late, so may have their work cut out, but lightly-raced French colt Vagabond Shoes could give Mike de Kock's Musir, a good third to Excelebration over a trip on the sharp side in the Hungerford at Newbury last time, something to think about.
Three bets for Friday's North American action......
Three selections for tonight's jumps meeting at Killbeggan......
Two winners and one non-runner for Timeform's Free US Form Site yesterday, and confidence is high that three from three can be achieved today......
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