THE FLAT season’s coming to an end but that hasn’t stopped the flow of good quality weekend racing and this week’s no exception.  Ascot holds yet another intriguing card with the top of the bill arguably the Group 3 Willmott Dixon Cornwallis Stakes for two-year-old flyers.  One of the fastest two-year-olds seen out this year has been the Brian Smart trained speedball Captain Gerrard.  Bought by connections “to win the 2,000 Guineas” this son of Oasis Dream will be lucky to see out 6f next year!  However, despite this, he had been an admirable performer over 5f and can step up on his pair of listed wins already this season.  The most likely source of a challenge is from the Peter Chapple-Hyam trained Spirit of Sharjah.  A listed winner for Julia Feilden in April he ran a fine race to be second to subsequent Cheveley Park runner-up Fleeting Spirit (Captain Gerrard was 5^th) in the Flying Childers Stakes.  Despite this I feel that the Smart horse was too keen that day and if settling better can reverse the form.  The other two-year-old race on the card is the Group 3 Deloitte Autumn Stakes for which Ibn Khaldun looks a penalty kick.  This regally bred Godolphin runner (by Dubai Destination out of Classic winning sister to Barathea, Gossamer) scooted up over 7f at the course’s September Meeting and looks likely to add to his haul in this modest affair.  Getting in some practice for the forthcoming jumps season, Donald McCain jnr’s Sunday City may well be able to open his chasing account at the first time of asking.  Rated 130 over hurdles, he will be facing some more experienced rivals but class can tell and he can make a winning start, provided he recovers from a heavy fall suffered last time out.

                                            Selections – 3.00 Ascot, 1 Ibn Khaldun