GENTILDONNA, runner-up to St Nicholas Abbey in this a year ago, faces another stiff test against some top-class opposition including her compatriot Denim And Ruby, who just failed to catch her in the Japan Cup in November when Dunaden stayed on strongly to be beaten less than 2l. The runner-up is lightly-raced and may just have more scope but the winner has track knowledge which can just swing things her way. Cirrus Des Aigles beat St NIcholas Abbey in this two years ago but wasn't quite up to that level last season and was beaten the four times he ran at Group 1 level. The Irish 2000 Guineas winner Magician put a poor run at Royal Ascot behind him to beat The Fugue in the Breeders' Cup Turf with Twilight Eclipse back in sixth. With much more to come this season he looks certain to give a good account though he'll probably not be quite as wound up as some of the opposition.
Excellent Result (IRE) 9-1 (8-11) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 std beating Songcraft (9-0) by hd, 15 ran.
Mars (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) 7th of 13, 5l behind Vercingetorix (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) std.
Denim And Ruby (JPN) (8-4) 2nd of 17, ns behind Gentildonna (8-9) at Tokyo(JPN) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) fm in Nov.
Magician (IRE) 12-1 (8-10) 3wd into lane,rallied, won at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Nov beating The Fugue (8-11) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Mount Athos (IRE) 9-1 (9-0) 3rd of 15, 1/2l behind Excellent Result (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 std.
Dunaden (FR) 12-1 (9-0) 6th of 16, 8l behind Prince Bishop (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Group 2 sks (1) in Feb.
My Ambivalent (IRE) (9-2) 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Lost In The Moment (9-6) at Velifendi (Turkey) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep
Meandre (FR) 10-1 (9-0) 4th of 15, 1 3/4l behind Excellent Result (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 std.
Festive Cheer (FR) 33-1 (9-0) Waited with well off the pace towards rear, closed into 4th 2f out, short of room on rail over 1f out, soon switched, kept on without troubling 1st 2, 3rd near finish, 3rd of 9, 3 1/2l behind Trading Leather (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Dubday (8-13) won at Dohar(QA) 1m 4f stks gd in Feb, 0 ran.
Twilight Eclipse (USA) 7-5fav (8-9) 3 wide, edged away, won at Gulfstream(USA) 1m 3f Grp 2 gd in Feb beating Amen Kitten (8-5) by 1l, 10 ran.
Empoli (GER) 10-1 (9-0) 2nd of 13, nk behind Tasaday (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Listed stks gd in Feb.
Dominant (IRE) (9-0) 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Military Attack (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 1m 2f stk gd in Feb.
Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) (9-4) 4th of 7, 1 1/4l behind Now We Can (9-4) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 1f 4yo stk.
