Satish Seemar has three entries, all formerly owned by Godolphin. Magic Illusion showed some potential and will be better for last month's opening run for new connections. However, Meqdam looked moderate in the summer but Enchanting Man showed enough in three all-weather starts to suggest he can win around here. AL BATTAR, who cost an astonishing €1,550,000 as a yearling and ran two decent races for Ed Vaughan. Though unlikely to repay a fraction of his purchase price, he is taken to make a successful start here. Dark Thunder has had 14 races without winning but is rarely far away.
Al Battar (IRE) 11-4 (9-5) Tracked winner, driven over 2f out, soon hung right, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Vasiliev (9-5) at Windsor 1m stks (4) gf in Jun.
Alla Mahlak (USA) (8-10) 4th of 10, 5 3/4l behind Tadbir (9-3) at Jebel Ali 7f stks fst in Nov.
Antonio Vivaldi (IRE) Zebedee gelding out of Varenka.
Aquanura (IRE) 11-10fav (9-7) Tracked leaders, headway on outside to lead narrowly 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on, no extra in 3rd final 50 yards, 3rd of 7, 2 3/4l behind Private Rocket (9-2) at Kempton 7f (3) pol in Nov.
Autumn Pride (IRE) (8-12) 6th of 13, 10 1/2l behind Antimo (9-1) at Al Ain 1m 2f mdn stks fst in Dec.
Dark Thunder (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 12, 8 1/2l behind Chiefdom (9-2) at Jebel Ali 1m mdn stks fst in Nov.
Enchanting Man 3-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, disputing close 2nd 2f out, not quicken when carried left over 1f out, hung left inside final furlong, stayed on towards finish, just failed, 2nd of 12, shd behind Creationist (9-2) at Kempton 1m stks (5) pol in Jan.
Harbour Dance (9-0) 8th of 10, 33l behind Rayig (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m mdn stks fst in Nov.
Kanood (USA) Distorted Humor colt out of Forbidden Gift.
Loughmore (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th 3f out, soon weakened, 11th of 16, 16 1/2l behind Blenheim Palace (9-1) at Navan 1m 2f hcp Yielding in Apr.
Mac Fi Bareliere (FR) (9-2) 13th of 15, 32 1/2l behind Makmour (9-2) at Deauville 7f stks pol in Nov.
Magic Illusion (8-9) 10th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Yaalail (9-3) at Abu Dhabi 7f hcp gd in Dec.
Meqdam (IRE) 10-3 (9-2) Led early, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 3rd of 4, 9 1/2l behind Medal Winner (9-2) at Brighton 1m 2f mdn stks (5) gf in Jul.
Son Of Normandy (9-0) 6th of 10, 8 1/2l behind Rayig (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m mdn stks fst in Nov.
Terrain Iffraaj colt out of Continental Drift.
Yasir The Poet (9-0) 7th of 10, 9l behind Rayig (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m mdn stks fst in Nov.
Shanty Star (USA) 5-1 (8-5) 5th of 12, 33 3/4l behind Gundogdu (8-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Mar.
Bartolist (IRE) (8-10) Unplaced of 8, 0.0000 behind Spahi Yes (9-3) at Chantilly 6f stks pol in Mar.
Ma Yahab (USA) 9-1 (8-7) 14th of 16, 25 1/2l behind Atta Alla (9-6) at Jebel Ali 6f mdn stks fst in Jan.
Leadership (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 10, 1l behind Rayig (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m mdn stks fst in Nov.
