Premier League: Manchester City's tranquil summer proves a successful one

"City’s best business was done in-house, with the contract extensions for Sergio Agüero, Samir Nasri, Vincent Kompany, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov."

Andy Brassell tells us why Manchester City's relatively quiet summer in the transfer market looks set to be reap rewards with the club extending the contracts of some of their major stars and the improved form of Stevan Jovetic...

No longer are Manchester City dominating the headlines when it comes to transfer speculation. Now, the fireworks are on the pitch, with Monday night's win over Liverpool continuing what has been an engaging and satisfying beginning to the Premier League champions' title defence. The noisy neighbours, it appears, have piped down at last.

There is always a hint of concern when reigning champions have a quiet summer in the transfer market. With a position of strength the best one from which to strengthen, there is the feeling of laurels being rested upon, of decompression and dropping of intensity, and lack of a clear next objective going forward.

Witnessing the positivity of City's display against last season's runners-up, it is clear that none of these accusations could be levelled at them. Set two distinct and contrasting challenges in their pair of opening games, Manuel Pellegrini's side have responded well. They snuffed out the threat of an ambitious and new Newcastle side, before mastering Liverpool with far greater assurance than they did on The Reds' last visit to the Etihad.

Besides, City's board has hardly been idle between seasons. As Jamie Jackson pointed out in Tuesday's edition of The Guardian, City's best business was done in-house, with the contract extensions for Sergio Agüero, Samir Nasri, Vincent Kompany, Edin Dzeko, David Silva and Aleksandar Kolarov. Their few, select signings - notably Fernando and Eliaquim Mangala - fulfil very specific needs and suggest complementarity with the existing group of players.

This suits the coach. Pellegrini, as was apparent during his best work at Villarreal and Malaga, is infinitely happier having a core of trusted players to work with than having stars thrown at him to subsequently incorporate. Clearly, the quality available to him is far greater than it was at either of those two rather more modest clubs, but the club are happy for the Chilean to create fairly similar working conditions for himself.

It works for the club too, with their initial plan to attract Pep Guardiola involving the presentation of a less sprawling, opulent squad and its replacement with a tight group. Clearly players to supplement and improve the excellent level that exists requires significant investment, which would also put City further at odds with UEFA's Financial Fair Play principles.

The rare signings have been notable, and will continue to be so. Fernando was the only new boy to start, but he showed just how vital he will be as the team's fulcrum. His accurate passing helped City grab a firm hold on midfield, and he was rarely called upon to make any interventions like the one which denied Ayoze Pérez an equaliser at Newcastle last week. Fernando can do containment just as well as destruction.

Mangala will grow into being a dominating presence alongside Kompany, and Willy Caballero - one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in La Liga over the last few seasons - will look a bargain at £6m even if his only function is to keep Joe Hart performing at a high level.

Pellegrini's sanguine nature is also a key attribute in making sure City make the most of everything they have. Plenty of coaches would have ditched Stevan Jovetic after his tough opening year in English football. Instead, Pellegrini persevered, and got his immediate reward against Liverpool. The Montenegrin's regular role with City may end up being a deeper one but for now, his form means no risks need to be taken with Agüero as he attains optimum condition.

City are still second favourites at 3.02/1 to retain their crown, behind Chelsea, 2.427/5. It is hard to choose between the two at the moment but Pellegrini's men make a persuasive case, and are unlikely to go out much longer in the coming weeks.

Amazon Watches Center

Handicappers' Corner: Lockinge proves Farhh too easy

"An analysis of the overall time backs up the view that Farhh put up a top-class effort, recording a timefigure of 131..."

An excellent week of racing, York's Dante meeting a precursor to Group 1 action at Newbury, and there's plenty to reflect upon. David Johnson goes into greater detail...

Any fears that the mile division for older horses might be rather short of the usual quality were quickly allayed shortly after 15:50 on Saturday as the Saeed bin Suroor-trained Farhh ran away with the Lockinge Stakes at Newbury. 

The perennial bridesmaid last year, there was no doubting that Farhh was Group 1 standard - he was top-rated on Saturday with a rating good enough to have won three of the last five renewals of the race, but given the nature that he won, and the margins involved, it's Timeform's view that Farhh has come back an improved performer, earning a new Timeform rating of 132.

Although a shade keen in the early stages, Farhh was travelling best from a long way out and never looked in any danger after going on around 2f out, still strong at the finish as he pulled four lengths clear of Sovereign Debt. Both the runner-up, and third Aljamaaheer have also been credited with personal bests, both running to 121.

Historical race standards give a range of 127-141 for the winner, whilst prior-ratings standards point to a figure in the low 130s. 

Since the Lockinge was upgraded to Group 1 status in 1995, only Frankel (144+) in 2012 and Hawk Wing (136) in 2003 have put up higher-rated winning performances, whilst Keltos in 2002 also ran to 132.  

An analysis of the overall time backs up the view that Farhh put up a top-class effort, recording a timefigure of 131. 

In terms of final time analysis, only Workforce (Derby), Harbinger (King George) and Frankel (Guineas, Lockinge, Juddmonte, Champion Stakes) have recorded superior timefigures in the last four seasons.

A rating of 132 sees Farhh as the one to beat in both the Queen Anne (Animal Kingdom is currently rated 128) and Prince of Wales's Stakes, and whilst the Lockinge was Farhh's first success at the top level, it will be surprising if it's his last.

Earlier on the Newbury card, Willing Foe provided Godolphin with the first leg of a double in the Aston Park Stakes. This listed race has a habit of unearthing genuine Group-class performers and it seems the case again as Willing Foe earned a figure of 120 for his wide-margin win over Harris Tweed. 

Whether Willing Foe proves effective over the two and a half miles of the Gold Cup or not, he's certainly worth aiming at other Cup races, his rating higher than those awarded to Glen's Diamond (116) and Top Trip (118) for pulling clear in the Yorkshire Cup the previous afternoon.

If the Yorkshire Cup wasn't a vintage renewal, there is perhaps a feeling that was also the case with York's major classic trials, the Musidora and the Dante.

The Musidora attracted a typically small field, but one that was weaker than usual, and it went to the highly-touted Liber Nauticus. Rated 101P prior to the race, Liber Nauticus kept her unbeaten record and moves on to 109p.

Liber Nauticus will be suited by the step up to a mile and half, whilst she still looked green at York, but perhaps Secret Gesture and Moth have stronger Oaks credentials at present.

The Dante lost a lot of significance after Telescope wasn't declared following a late setback, and it certainly had the feel of a substandard renewal, just over four lengths covering the first five home.

Standards suggested a range of 113-122 for the winner and Libertarian's figure of 114 is the joint-lowest this century, alongside Black Bear Island (2009) and Magistretti (2003).

The highest-rating earned at York was that by Society Rock who defied his Group 1 penalty to go two places better than in the previous year's Duke of York Stakes. Confirming his 126 rating, he looks the strongest of the home contenders for the Diamond Jubilee, a race in which he has a very good record.

This week also saw a number of Group-class performances in handicaps, the pick of which was First Mohican who ran to 119p when winning the first race at the Dante meeting. Sir John Hawkwood ran to 116 to win the Jorvik Stakes and at Hamilton, Mijhaar ran to the same level in the Braveheart Stakes.

With Royal Ascot just four weeks away, the juvenile action is beginning to gather pace. The Aidan O'Brien-trained Stubbs is surely bound for that meeting after breaking his maiden at the second attempt at the weekend, and his rating of 99p is the best a juvenile has recorded so far.

Not far behind on a rating of 98p is Beldale Memory who maintained her unbeaten record in the listed Marygate Stakes at York. Ceiling Kitty followed up her success in that in the Queen Mary and that looks an obvious target. A median rating of 107 has been required to win the Queen Mary in the last five years.

Finally, the wait for a US Triple Crown winner goes on, as Orb's bid was derailed with defeat in the second leg, the Preakness Stakes. On 124, he remains the highest-rated 3-y-o in North America though, with the Preakness winner Oxbow adjudged to have run to 122. 

Get open access to Timeform data for just £2.50 a day with Timeform Race Passes. It's like a Form Book, Black Book & Race Card all in one! Find Out More!

There are no comments on this article.

Product reviews and advice for best reference

Handicappers' Corner: Baker proves the difference in Winter Derby

Handicappers' Corner / Timeform / 26 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Premio Loco ran to a figure of 119 in the Winter Derby

"A figure of 119 is the highest awarded to the Winter Derby winner since the race was introduced in 1998..."

Though the culmination of the all-weather season, it's difficult to see Winter Derby day at Lingfield as anything other than the beginning on the new Flat season given the quality of horses and the promising performances on show. David Johnson takes a look at them from the Timeform ratings perspective...

Winter Flat racing fans were denied the opportunity to see much of George Baker throughout the season after a fall at Wolverhampton in October saw him suffer a broken arm which kept him off the track for over three months, but since his return, he's been regularly reminding them of what they have missed, and there was no greater example of his talents than his ride on Premio Loco in the Winter Derby.

If ever there was an example of a race won and lost in the early part of the race, then this was it. Both Baker and Jamie Spencer, on runner-up Cai Shen, had wide draws to overcome, and with just half a length between them at the line, Baker's decision to be aggressive and take his horse forward into a prominent position was surely crucial, saving ground as well as getting first run in a race that the sectional times confirm was run to suit those ridden prominently.

Premio Loco was rated 122 at his peak in 2010, and it reflects well on his trainer Chris Wall that he is just about as good as ever as an 8-y-o, running to a figure of 119 on Saturday and defying a Group 2 penalty for his success in last year's Park Stakes.

A figure of 119 is the highest awarded to the Winter Derby winner since the race was introduced in 1998 and is marginally higher than what the five-year race standards would suggest.

The runner-up Cai Shen deserves plenty of credit too and is in for a good season, the fact he matched his pre-race rating of 114 suggesting he can build on it when things go more his way. A head behind him was Circumvent who returned to pick of his 3-y-o form in running to 113.

A couple of listed races supported the card and it was Gusto that took the Spring Cup for Richard Hannon. Hannon has brought back Dubawi Gold and Paco Boy in this race in recent times, so it would be surprising if this proves to be the highlight of Gusto's career.

Gusto improved to a figure of 111, the highest awarded to the winner since the race was introduced, but he remains rated behind the third, Bannock (113) whose performance figure of 104+ would surely have been bettered had he not had to race so wide from stall 10. The runner-up Kenny Powers was fit from Dubai and showed much-improved form to earn a rating of 106, finishing strongly from further back than ideal.

The form of the Hever Sprint Stakes looks all the more shaky. There's no doubt Fratellino improved on anything he'd done previously, and he's now rated 111, up 9 lb from 102. But having had the ideal run through, it would be a surprise if he could confirm the form against some of his higher-rated rivals who weren't seen to best effect, notably the fast-finishing second Spirit Quartz (up to 112, bare performance figure of 109+) and the hampered Medicean Man (remains on 115).

The 1m maiden saw Forgotten Hero run out an impressive winner, and he could have a classic trial on his agenda. Sent off odds-on to beat Horris Hill-third Hazaz, he comfortably came home 6 lengths clear of that rival, and though running only to a bare figure of 92+, is now rated 102p.

Over in the States, former Ed McMahon inmate Went The Day Well put himself in line for a crack at the Kentucky Derby with his success in the Spiral Stakes at Turfway Park.

Representing the same connections as Animal Kingdom, who won the same contest twelve months ago and followed up in the Run For The Roses, Went The Day Well earned a rating of 117, still 7lb behind current favourite, Union Rags.

Race Passes subscribers already enjoy access to our ratings, form & in-play data. And now there's more - we've added a list of Horses In Focus, last 3 runs on the meeting summary & coverage of big races abroad. And all for the same price!

Exciting though it was, The Breeders' Cup promised more than it delivered and needs to look to its laurels. Simon Rowlands considers the event from a rating point of view, in a week which also featured the Melbourne Cup and some good jumps action......

Form rather than hype, substance over style, achievement more than potential. That has long been the Timeform mantra, but this weekend's best Flat action provided an exception. Timeform Flat handicapper David Johnson explains....

It's had its knockers but, with Ascot bathed in autumn sunshine and high-quality fields for all five pattern races, few can argue that British Champions Day was anything but a resounding success. David Johnson reflects on the results from a ratings perspective......

Future Champions Day was the highlight of the racing in Europe this weekend, but, with neither the Middle Park nor Dewhurst producing a commanding winner, it's most unlikely that Timeform's Champion two-year-old was in action. We may, however, still have seen a top-class colt, as David Johnson reveals....

Amazon Watches Center