POSTPONED won this a year ago though, unlike this time around, he arrived on the back of a facile victory in the Group 2 Dubai City Of Gold. Surprisingly beaten by Prize Money three weeks ago, he's obviously been prepared solely for another crack at this lucrative prize and will be very difficult to beat. Prize Money had looked a very good handicapper before beating Roger Varian's star and is obviously on the upgrade though it will be a surprise if he can confirm the form as he had a fitness advantage and was receiving 3lb. The globetrotting Highland Reel could only finish fourth a year ago and was also behind the selection when runner-up in the Juddmonte. He reversed the form when runner-up to stable companion Found in the Arc before a brilliant victory over the high-class Flintshire in the Breeders' Cup Turf. His stable companion Seventh Heaven, winner of the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks, is by no means making up the numbers but Sounds Of Earth hasn't won since 2014 despite being placed several times at the highest level in Japan and Earnshaw is on a very long losing run. Jack Hobbs, runner-up in the 2015 Epsom Derby before running away with the Irish version, has had very little racing subsequently but showed he retains his ability with a cracking third place behind Almanzor and Found in the Champion Stakes at Ascot.
Earnshaw (USA) 9-1 (9-0) 5th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Decorated Knight (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Jack Hobbs 7-1 (9-5) Steadied and switched right after start, held up, in last pair and raced awkwardly, pushed along on outside 3f out, headway under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside fnal furlong, went 3rd final 75 yards, not pace to challenge, 3rd of 10, 3 3/4l behind Almanzor (9-0) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Highland Reel (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 14, 1/2l behind Satono Crown (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Dec.
Sounds Of Earth (JPN) (9-0) 8th of 16, 6l behind at Nakayama 1m 4f in Dec.
Prize Money 4-1 (8-11) won at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Mar beating Postponed (9-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Seventh Heaven (IRE) 7-2 (8-8) Steadied 3/8,outkicked, 4th of 13, 1 3/4l behind Queen's Trust (8-8) at Santa Anita 1m 2f gd in Nov.
Postponed (IRE) 2-5fav (9-0) 2nd of 10, nk behind Prize Money (8-11) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Mar.
