Mendelssohn ended last year with victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and warmed up for this by beating stablemates Threeandfourpence and Seahenge at Dundalk earlier this month. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has every chance while Gold Town is the ante-post favourite after scorching to a 10-length success in the UAE 2000 Guineas here back in February. Though visually impressive, the form of that race hasn’t worked out well and RAYYA (NAP) is preferred. She had the previous dual winner and odds-on favourite Winter Lightning back in third when landing the UAE Oaks over course and distance and Doug Watson’s filly may well be good enough in this with any further progress. Yulong Warrior romped home in a Listed event here three weeks ago but the Japanese raiders Taiki Ferveur and Ruggero look to be thrown in at the deep end here along with US challenger Reride.
Rayya (USA) 9-2 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 3 stks gd in Mar beating Expressiy (9-0) by 3 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ruggero (JPN) (8-11) 3rd of 16, at Tokyo 1m stks Sloppy in Feb.
Reride (USA) 17-5 (8-9) Inside,duel,dug in, won at Sunland Park 1m stks fst in Feb beating Runaway Ghost (8-9) by 2 1/2l, 9 ran.
Mendelssohn (USA) Evensfav (9-8) Led early, soon tracked leader in 2nd, 3rd halfway, pushed along and headway to lead narrowly over 1f out, ridden and kept on best final 100 yards, won at Dundalk 1m lst stks (1) pol in Mar beating Threeandfourpence (9-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Gold Town 2-7fav (8-9) won at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks (1) fst in Feb beating Gotti (8-9) by 10l, 15 ran.
Seahenge (USA) 7-2 (9-8) Missed break, soon ran 4th, 5th under 4f out, ridden in 4th 1 1/2f out, progress to 3rd final 100 yards, not trouble principals, 3rd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Mendelssohn (9-8) at Dundalk 1m lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Yulong Warrior (USA) 15-2 (8-9) won at Meydan 1m 1f lst stks fst in Mar beating Nordic Defense (8-9) by 12l, 13 ran.
Taiki Ferveur (JPN) (8-11) 2nd of 16, 2 1/2l behind Ruggero (8-11) at Tokyo 1m stks Sloppy in Feb.
Threeandfourpence (USA) 5-2 (9-3) Prominent, soon led, under pressure and headed over 1f out, kept on, not match winner final 100 yards, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Mendelssohn (9-8) at Dundalk 1m lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
