tracked stand side leader, switched right to centre group halfway, ridden and every chance entering final furlong, no extra towards finish
tracked leader, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
dwelt in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
held up, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, one pace final furlong
led to post, close up, pushed along halfway, weakened final furlong
stumbled badly leaving stalls, led stand side pair, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace inside final furlong
dwelt towards rear, ridden over 1f out, no impression
overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong
dwelt tracked leader after 1f, ridden over 1f out, stayed on one pace inside final furlong
keen held up, pushed along 2f out, soon weakened
The first three from last year lock horns again. BLUE POINT beat Battaash and Mabs Cross 12 months ago and may well do so again as he was in terrific form at Meydan at the start of the year. His absence since winning the Al Quoz Sprint in March is not a concern as he goes well fresh and will also handle any give in the ground. Battaash is a top-class sprinter on his day but often boils over in the preliminaries. He did win easily at Haydock on his return to action, however, though third Mabs Cross had her excuses that day and is 5lb better off. Michael Dods’ mare had earlier won the Palace House at Newmarket when carrying a penalty and appears to have the beating of Equilateral and Sergei Prokofiev on that form. Houtzen has travelled halfway around the world to run in this but has never won above Group 3 level in his native Australia and American raider Imprimis also has plenty on his plate.
Battaash (IRE) 5-6fav (9-4) Taken to post early, keen close up, switched left to track leading pair, led 2f out, edged left and ridden clear (hand timed), won at Haydock 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May beating Alpha Delphini (9-4) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Blue Point (IRE) 4-6fav (9-0) won at Meydan 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Mar beating Belvoir Bay (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Enzo's Lad (AUS) (9-0) 9th of 10, 13 1/4l behind Beat The Clock (9-0) at Sha Tin 6f Grp 1 gd in Apr.
Equilateral 11-2 (9-6) Dwelt soon recovered to track leaders, led entering final 2f, soon ridden, headed final strides, 2nd of 11, nk behind Mabs Cross (9-10) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May.
Imprimis (USA) 13-5 (8-11) Stumbled st,drove past, won at Keeneland 5f stks gd in Apr beating Bound For Nowhere (8-9) by nk, 13 ran.
Judicial (IRE) 12-1 (9-6) Led to post early, held up, headway approaching 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 4 1/4l behind Mabs Cross (9-10) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May.
Houtzen (AUS) 5-4 (9-0) 10th of 13, 3/4l behind Egyptian Symbol (9-0) at Gold Coast 6f gd in Jan.
Mabs Cross 7-2 (9-6) Taken to post early, close up, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 3rd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Battaash (9-4) at Haydock 5f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Sergei Prokofiev (CAN) 6-4fav (9-0) In rear, pushed along 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Mabs Cross (9-10) at Newmarket 5f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May.
Soldier's Call 11-4fav (9-7) Led, hard pressed over 1f out, ridden and headed inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, 3rd of 6, 1/4l behind Garrus (9-2) at York 5f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Fairyland (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Mid-division, squeezed for room after 2f, 6th from halfway, ridden over 2f out, no impression and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 6th of 10, 8 1/4l behind Hermosa (9-0) at Curragh 1m Grp 1 fll (1) gf in May.
Signora Cabello (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Prominent, ridden over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 11, 5 1/2l behind Forever In Dreams (8-8) at Haydock 6f lst fll (1) gf in May.
