Heavy Metal arrives in top form having reappeared with an impressive all-the-way victory in a Listed contest last month. A Group 3 winner last season, he deserves this step up in grade and his fitness advantage is an obvious bonus. But he was twice beaten by NORTH AMERICA on Dirt last term, the latest when the latter won a Group 3 in very impressive style before beaten a long way in the Godolphin Mile on Turf when starting favourite. With his stable still firing the winners in and Richard Mullen looking for his 400th UAE victory, he's taken to get back on track. Thunder Snow is a very high-class colt with no penalties for his two Group 1 victories. He won easily on his first start on this surface here in February but is unlikely to represent any value. Last year's runner-up Long River went one better in a Group 1 in March before finding the likes of Arrogate much too good in the World Cup so he should give a good account.
Long River (USA) 50-1 (9-0) 11th of 14, 31l behind Arrogate (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 Slow in Mar.
Heavy Metal (9-2) won at Meydan 1m lst stks (1) fst in Dec beating Wild Dude (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 7 ran.
Confrontation (USA) (9-0) last of 8, dist behind North America (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks (1) fst in Feb.
Fitzgerald (USA) (9-0) 6th of 11, 12 1/4l behind Muarrab (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks (1) fst in Dec.
Taamol (IRE) 11-4fav (9-7) Raced wide in touch in rear, ridden over 2f out, not trouble leaders, last of 7, 5 1/2l behind Battered (8-9) at Goodwood 7f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Cosmo Charlie (USA) (8-13) 4th of 7, 10 1/4l behind Heavy Metal (9-2) at Meydan 1m lst stks (1) fst in Dec.
Thunder Snow (IRE) 16-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride, always towards rear, behind and eased final 2f, never a factor, last of 15, 32 3/4l behind Persuasive (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
North America 15-8fav (9-0) 10th of 13, 26 1/4l behind Second Summer (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 Slow in Mar.
