tracked leaders, slightly outpaced over 2f out, ridden and stayed on to go 2nd towards finish, no threat to winner
led, ridden 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra
dwelt, soon close up in 4th, closed approaching 2f out, pushed along and led just inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, led approaching final furlong, headed just inside final furlong, lost 2nd towards finish
A 22/1 outsider won this last year but the likely favourite PEACOCK will have to run way below par if we are to see another shock winner. The Hannon colt was beaten less than a length in Listed company at Doncaster in September and is 13lb clear of his nearest rivals on today's terms. Surewecan steps up in trip after a couple of poor efforts at Meydan while Azraff and Jolievitesse have both won over a mile but struggled in Group 3 contests on their latest starts. Master Of Irony has a stack to find on the book but is the least exposed and has presumably improved since winning a Lingfield maiden race in December.
Azraff (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 10l behind Maftool (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep.
Jolievitesse (FR) 14-1 (9-1) Held up behind, driven 3f out, effort on outside when not much room 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, never on terms, 6th of 9, 5l behind Commemorative (9-1) at Newmarket 1m 2yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct.
Peacock 20-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, headway when hampered inside final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Nafaqa (9-0) at Doncaster 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gd in Sep.
Surewecan (8-9) last of 11, 25l behind Volatile (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 7f Listed stks (1) gf in Feb.
Master Of Irony (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up, headway over 2f out, switched right to challenge over 1f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, driven out, won at Lingfield 7f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Dec beating Rockfast (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
