Dubai: Campanologist, Godolphin's globe-trotting star, makes his long-awaited return to England to contest the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial (Group 3) at Newbury today. The five-year-old by Kingmambo comes into today's race with solid European Group One winning form having scored emphatic back-to-back wins in Germany.
His successes came in the Grosser Preis Von Lotto Hamburg (Deutschland Preis/ Grosser Hansa Preis( (Group 1) at Hamburg on July 17 and the Rheinland-Pokal (Group 1) at Cologne on August 12.
However, as a result of those two Group One wins he will have to carry a seven pound penalty and concede weight to his eight rivals in today's Newbury feature, which as its name suggests is regarded as a prep race for the 6.3 million euros (Dh30.1 million) Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, at Longchamp next month.
Godolphin have won the Arc three times in the past but not since Marienbard triumphed in 2002. Previous wins came courtesy Sakhee in 2001 and Lammtarra in 1995.
In the inaugural Arc trial in 1997 Godolphin's Swain finished third to the Paul Cole-trained Posidonas before going on to contest the Longchamp showpiece where he ran seventh to Peintre Celebre.
Illustrious footsteps
So Campanologist will hope to follow in the illustrious footsteps of previous winners of the trial including Halicarnassus (2007), Compton Bolter (2005 & 2003), Grandera (2001) and Fantastic Light (1999).
His rivals include the Michael Jarvis-trained Rainbow Peak, winner of the Wolverton Handicap at Ascot prior to finishing a length behind Godolphin's Rio de la Plata in a Group Three race at York last month.
The French-bred son of Hernando is a progressive four-year-old who has not finished out of the money in five career starts. His trainer reports that the horse has more to show and expects a bold run from him at Newbury today. Other notables include Luca Cumani's Bauer and Michael Bell's Monitor Closley.
Newbury's seven-race card also includes the £40,000 (Dh229,600) Listed Dubai Duty Free Cup over seven furlongs.
Godolphin have also that Rio de la Plata will return to France to contest a support race at the Arc meeting.
Rio De La Plata was beaten a head by Fuisse in the Prix du Moulin at Longchamp earlier this month,.
Godolphin racing manager told Racing UK: "He's come back well from his run in France, it was a huge effort, and he's in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein at the Arc meeting and we'll take a look at that race.
Overseas entries
"He also has entries overseas in Italy and Germany but I suspect if the ground is suitable he will run at Longchamp."
The son of Rahy landed the Sky Bet Strensall Stakes at York in August.
Meanwhile, Godolphin announced that their US-based horses returned to Belmont Park on Wednesday following their eight-week stay at Saratoga Springs racetrack for the 2010 summer meeting.
William hill gold cup
Ayr Racecourse in Scotland stages its premier flat race meeting of the season, the William Hill Gold Cup Festival, which began yesterday.
The William Hill (Ayr) Gold Cup over six furlongs is Europe's richest sprint handicap, with £150,000 (Dh860,000) in prize-money, and takes place tomorrow.
The current market leader is Poet's Place, who won the Ladbrokes Portland Handicap at Doncaster last Saturday.
Also expected to contest the valuable sprint include Evens And Odds, Hawkeyethenoo and Jonny Mudball.
Seven-time UAE champion jockey Ted Durcan will ride Hawkeyethenoo for Scottish trainer Jim Goldie.
Durcan, who has ridden the four-year-old once before when second over five furlongs at Epsom in June, replaces Kieren Fallon who has a booking for Luca Cumani at Newbury.
"This horse has been in excellent form. He won his last race well up in York and I know Mr Goldie has been really happy with the horse," Durcan told Sportinglife.
"In a race like this you need luck in running, but he's a lovely ride to have and I was delighted to ride him at Epsom where he was second.
"It's been a long time since a Scottish horse won it so let's hope we can rectify that on Saturday."
Frankie Dettori won the Gold Cup last year aboard the Clive Cox-trained Jimmy Styles.
