Mille Et Mille got the better of Kicky Blue to win last year’s renewal but both have fallen victim to VAZIRABAD since then. Alain De Royer-Dupre’s charge won for the eighth time in 11 starts when landing Group 3 trial here last month and narrowly beating the re-opposing Nahual. But that was his first start since July and he’s expected to be fully primed for this. A strong UK contingent is led by York’s Lonsdale Cup winner Quest For More, who was in front of Burmese when beaten only a nose in the Doncaster Cup. Nearly Caught posted his best effort to date to win a Group 2 at Deauville in August and beating a below par Fly With Me in the process but Amour de Nuit may struggle in this company.
Vazirabad (FR) (9-6) won at Chantilly 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep beating Nahual (8-11) by shd, 6 ran.
Trip To Rhodos (FR) (9-4) 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Nearly Caught (9-4) at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 gd in Aug.
Fly With Me (FR) (9-4) 7th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Nearly Caught (9-4) at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 gd in Aug.
Nahual (FR) (8-11) 2nd of 6, shd behind Vazirabad (9-6) at Chantilly 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Amour de Nuit (IRE) 6-1 (10-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and slightly outpaced 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 6, 7 1/4l behind Kiltara (9-1) at Yarmouth 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Autor (IRE) (9-11) 2nd of 9, nk behind Rhett Butler (9-11) at Kincsem Park 1m 4f gs in Sep.
Burmese 14-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, pushed along over 4f out, stayed on same pace final 2f, 4th of 8, 6 1/4l behind Sheikhzayedroad (9-3) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Mille Et Mille (9-6) last of 6, 8 1/4l behind Vazirabad (9-6) at Chantilly 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Quest For More (IRE) 5-2fav (9-3) Made all, strongly challenged throughout final 2f, headed last strides, 2nd of 8, shd behind Sheikhzayedroad (9-3) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Nearly Caught (IRE) (9-4) won at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 gd in Aug beating Candarliya (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Cayirli (FR) 20-1 (9-7) Prominent, led after 2f, headed over 3f out, lost place over 2f out, last of 11, 21 1/4l behind Wall of Fire (8-9) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp stks (2) gd in Sep.
Kicky Blue (GER) (8-10) 4th of 6, 4 1/4l behind Vazirabad (9-6) at Chantilly 1m 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.