steadied start, held up in rear, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, no chance when slightly hampered inside final 2f, never a factor
bit reluctant going to post, tracked leaders, pushed along over 4f out, ridden and went 2nd over 2f out, every chance until winner quickened on over 1f out, hung right and weakened inside final furlong
held up in 6th, pushed along on outside over 3f out, 5th and no impression when switched left inside final 2f
held up in 5th, some headway on outside and hung right from over 2f out, plugged on in 6th and no impression final 2f
tracked leader, led narrowly over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, 3rd and one pace inside final furlong, kept on pressing for 2nd, not pace of winner
held up towards rear, good headway between horses over 2f out, 2nd and every chance 1f out, pressed winner until no extra final 100 yards
always behind, never a factor, tailed off
led and set steady pace until halfway, headed over 3f out, ridden and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
tracked leaders on inside, switched left over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden to lead over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, stayed on strongly to assert final 100 yards
Order Of St George won this in 2016 but couldn’t get past Big Orange last year. However, he later beat Torcedor in top staying events here and at the Curragh and is two from two this season. Vazirabad beat Sheikhzayedroad when winning the Dubai Gold Cup in March for a third year running. He’s a regular visitor to Meydan but has never raced outside of France otherwise, though won the Prix du Cadran over 2m4f at Chantilly last year so should have no problems with the trip and shouldn’t be underestimated. STRADIVARIUS (NAP) won the Queen’s Vase here last year and that has been a sound stepping stone to victory in this race in the past. He was finishing best of all when just behind Order Of St George and Torcedor over 2m here in the autumn and showed Desert Skyline and Max Dynamite a clean pair of heels on his return to action over 1m6f at York – the third that day won a Grade 2 at Belmont earlier this month. Mount Moriah generally struggles to stay 2m and Scotland looks to be well out of his depth.
Max Dynamite (FR) 7-1 (9-1) Held up in rear, ridden and headway towards stands side over 2f out, went 4th and edged left 1f out, stayed on same pace, 4th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Stradivarius (9-1) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Order Of St George (IRE) 1-10fav (9-12) Tracked leaders in 2nd, challenged 4f out, led over 3f out, pushed along to assert over 1f out, kept on under hands and heels inside final furlong, cosily, won at Leopardstown 1m 6f lst stks (1) gf in May beating Twilight Payment (9-5) by 3/4l, 5 ran.
Scotland (GER) 33-1 (9-0) Held up last, pushed along and outpaced over 2f out, never on terms, last of 6, 5 1/4l behind Barsanti (9-0) at Ascot 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in May.
Sheikhzayedroad 6-1 (9-2) Towards rear, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, last of 8, 12 3/4l behind Magic Circle (9-2) at Sandown 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Torcedor (IRE) 9-4fav (9-2) Made all, quickened tempo 7f out, clear 6f out until given breather over 4f out, shaken up and went clear again 2f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged, won at Ascot 2m Grp 3 stks (1) sft in May beating Time To Study (9-1) by 5l, 6 ran.
Vazirabad (FR) (9-4) won at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 2 gs in May beating Marmelo (9-2) by nk, 10 ran.
Desert Skyline (IRE) 10-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway from 3f out, swerved left over 1f out, no impression on winner, went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 3l behind Stradivarius (9-1) at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Mount Moriah 7-2 (9-1) In touch, headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 5th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Magic Circle (9-2) at Sandown 2m Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-6fav (9-1) Held up towards rear, closed towards stands side over 3f out, going well over 2f out, led and quickened over 1f out, clear inside final furlong, easily, won at York 1m 6f Grp 2 (1) gf in May beating Desert Skyline (9-4) by 3l, 8 ran.
