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Milers take center stage in Lockinge Aidan O'Brien unleashed a reinvigorated Hawk Wing in the Group 1 Lockinge at Newbury 10 years ago, and there are strong vibes that the stable's ex-French project Declaration of War could be about to take center stage in Saturday's renewal. Taken from Jean-Claude Rouget and given plentiful time to mature, Susan Magnier, Michel Tabor, Derrick Smith and Joseph Allen's four-year-old was initially shaping as a middle-distance performer when winning a 10-furlong Curragh conditions event in September and the Diamond Stakes over 150 yards further on Dundalk's Polytrack the following month. Reinvented as a miler this term, the bay captured the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in convincing style April 14 and has attracted significant money in the betting market this week. Now that Frankel and Excelebration are out of the way, Khalid Abdullah's Cityscape has the opportunity to shine in the major domestic mile contests. Impressive in the 2012 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan, he failed to see out 10 furlongs when fourth in the Eclipse at Sandown in July before running second to Excelebration in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August and Queen Elizabeth II at Ascot in October either side of a third placing in the Woodbine Mile the following month. "On official ratings, he's the best miler in Europe," trainer Roger Charlton told PA Sport. "Obviously there are a few new kids on the block this year like Declaration of War, so he'll need to maintain his form. He ran against Wise Dan at Woodbine and I knew he was the one to beat going out there but we had to give him weight, despite it being a Grade 1. "There's no doubt Wise Dan is right up there with the best." Godolphin have won this four times, and rely on Farhh, who stays at the mile trip over which he was second in the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp when last seen in September. Previously second to Frankel in the Sussex at Goodwood and York's Juddmonte International in August, he also filled that berth in the Eclipse and has looked to be booked for a top-level success for some time. "Farhh had a small chip removed from his ankle after he ran in France and we gave him time to recover," Saeed bin Suroor commented. "He has been working nicely and seems happy and fresh, although he will improve for the run. I am hoping that there is some rain before Saturday, because he prefers cut in the ground but I think that he will be fine on good going." Sir Henry Cecil also boasts four renewals of this race and puts forward Ecurie Wildenstein's Beauty Parlour this time. The daughter of Deep Impact has classic-winning form over this trip after annexing last year's Poule d'Essai des Pouliches at Longchamp and is better than her latest seventh in the September 29 Sun Chariot at Newmarket suggests. One who could come under the radar is George Strawbridge's newly-gelded Fencing, who has always suggested he could be a top performer like his dam Latice and who looked a different proposition when winning the Paradise Stakes over this trip at Ascot May 1. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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