Dubai: Godolphin handler Mahmoud Al Zarouni will be determined to revive his fortunes when City Style contests the Group One Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji today.
In a week he'd like to forget, the Emirati handler was dealt a double disappointment when both his Derby hope Mandaean and highly-touted French Group One winner Be Fabulous tanked at York's Dante meeting.
City Style was last seen finishing third behind Cityscape in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free (G1) on March 31.
He meets 12 rivals including Hong Kong Group One winners California Memory and Zaidan, US Grade One scorer Chinchon, Audemars Piguet QEII Cup second Thumbs Up and Zazou, who was fifth in the $10 million Dubai World Cup (G1) at Meydan.
Assessing his horse's chances, Al Zarouni said on the Godolphin website: "City Style has improved a great deal this season and he looks to be a different horse compared to previous seasons.
"It will be the first time he is trying a mile and a quarter, but I think that the step up could be in his favour. He was staying on well on all of his starts at Meydan this year and it will be interesting to see how he performs over this distance.
"Mickael Barzalona gets on very well with City Style and I am hopeful of another big run."
City Style, who worked in Dubai on Sunday prior to flying out to Singapore, was given a spin over 1,600 metres at Kranji yesterday (Friday) morning.
Final furlong
Partnered by Budha Singh, he went a circuit and a half of the Polytrack course, accelerating over the last four furlongs. The final furlong was timed by Singapore Turf Club at 13.2 seconds.
Andrea Mascolo, travelling head lad for City Style's trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni, commented: "It was a normal canter before increasing to half-speed.
Latest odds
Singapore Airlines Cup (G1)
Zazou (3) , Thumbs Up (9/2), California Memory (5), City Style (7) , Waikato (9), Dream Peace (12) , Zaidan (12), Chinchon (14), Always Certain (40), Eldorado (40), Speed Baby (40) , New Rose Wood (50), Flax (66)
