MR PROFESSOR had a fine first season winning three times culminating in a Listed contest at Pontefract. He's top-rated in a race that appears to lack the quality of recent years and may be good enough. Home City and Sovereign Prince represent Godolphin and though both have done well they are exposed as is the Sweden-based Hotline Bling. Kiwano went for 140,000gns at the Craven Breeze-up in April and made a successful debut at Kempton in September. That wouldn't normally be good enough for this but with progress likely he's greatly respected.
Bin Askar (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 9, 27 1/2l behind Violent Justice (9-2) at Jebel Ali 7f mdn stks fst in Dec.
Home City (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Tracked leaders, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, kept on, always held, 2nd of 12, 3/4l behind Mystery Fox (9-5) at Goodwood 7f (4) sft in Oct.
Hotline Bling (IRE) (9-4) won at Bro Park 1m gd in Oct beating Indy Humor (9-4) by 6l, 9 ran.
Kiwano (FR) 9-1 (9-5) Broke well to lead, ridden at 2f and kept on, ran on well inside final furlong, won cosily, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Sep beating Brayden Star (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Mr Professor (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Held up in rear, going nicely over 2f out, closed when not clear run and switched left entering straight, challenged entering final furlong and soon led, ran on, won at Pontefract 1m lst stks (1) sft in Oct beating Westover (9-3) by nk, 11 ran.
Razeen Dubai (USA) (9-2) 7th of 10, 14 1/4l behind Azure Coast (9-2) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Dec.
Sed Maarib (USA) (9-2) last of 10, 29 1/4l behind Azure Coast (9-2) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Dec.
Sovereign Prince 9-2 (9-7) Tracked leader, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Epsom 7f (4) gd in Sep beating Safra (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
