Five things that link Premier League champions Manchester City and racing

Michael Bell
Many people support football teams for odd reasons, but Derby-winning trainer Michael Bell has a sound alibi for siding with the Premier League champions given he shares his name with one of their legendary players. Colin Bell, a midfield stalwart of Manchester City in the 1960s and 1970s, was – in another appropriate twist – nicknamed Nijinsky after Britain's last Triple Crown hero thanks to his class and durability.

Michael Bell: trainer a big fan of Colin BellCredit: Edward Whitaker

Aguerooo
Whatever Manchester City achieve, few of their fans will forget the most dramatic Premier League triumph of all time when Sergio Aguero rescued their match with Queens Park Rangers in the dying embers of the 2011-12 season. His goal snatched the title from City's bitter rivals Manchester United and Sky commentator Martin Tyler's ode to the star Argentinian striker – "Aguerooo!" – led to the naming of the Monsieur Bond gelding, who has won eight of 57 starts.

Feed The Goater
Agueroo's owners Middleham Park Racing were responsible for the naming of another horse recognising a City cult hero in Feed The Goater, who honoured the club's popular Bermudan hitman Shaun Goater. Not quite the class of Sergio Aguero, Goater, who began his career at Manchester United, nevertheless became one of City's most-loved players, developing into an effective striker as the-then Maine Road outfit began its initial resurgence to the top tier in the late 1990s.

Bernardo Silva
One of Man City's players of the season, Bernardo Silva took time out of the high-pressured title run by turning up at Chester's May meeting on Thursday – his first time experiencing a day at the races. "I'm enjoying it a lot and the atmosphere is great. I've just lost some money, but that's all right," said the talented Portuguese playmaker. "It's nice to enjoy ourselves – it's our day off today – and I'm very happy to be here."

Seebald
Martin Pipe's Arkle second might have been more appropriate had Liverpool won the Premier League, but it is worth remembering Anfield aces Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman, who were involved in owning the gelding, had spells at Manchester City towards the end of their careers. They were enthusiastic owners and their best horse was probably the son of Mulberry, who went off 5-2 favourite for the 2002 Arkle only to be denied by legendary two-miler Moscow Flyer.

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