2011 winner Dunaden and last year's winner Green Moon have tougher tasks this time. Mount Athos encountered plenty of trouble when fifth behind the latter last year and the draw hasn't be kind. Luca Cumani's charge is closely matched with Brown Panther, who won the Goodwood Cup in fine style when beating Ahzeemah. The latter doesn't line up but had beaten Simenon before suffering a six length defeat at the hands of the progressive VOLEUSE DE COEURS in the Irish St Leger. She's since joined Michael Moroney in Australia and looks to have every chance on the Curragh form. Red Cadeaux has come up short in this twice before but beat Royal Empire at Newbury in August. Dandino has a shout on his good effort behind Fawkner in the Caulfield Cup, while last year's runner-up Fiorente, Hawkspur and Sea Moon may also figure. French filly Verema is another to consider with her recent defeat of Joshua Tree working out well.
Dunaden (FR) 9-2 (9-2) 8th of 9, 6l behind Orfevre (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) sft in Sep.
Red Cadeaux 4-1 (9-11) Mid-division, 7th halfway, headway 4f out, pushed along in close 4th 3f out, under pressure in 5th 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 10, 11l behind Voleuse De Coeurs (9-8) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Sea Moon 5-2 (9-5) won at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Oct, 9 ran.
Brown Panther 3-1 (9-5) Led, clear 5f out, ridden 2f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra, 5th of 9, 5l behind Grandeur (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Sep.
Fiorente (IRE) (8-13) 4th of 20, 1/2l behind Happy Trails (9-1) at Flemington(AUS) 1m 2f Grp 1 in Oct.
Foreteller (AUS) 9-1 (9-4) 2nd of 5, 4l behind Atlantic Jewel (9-0) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Dandino (8-13) 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Fawkner (8-9) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Ethiopia (AUS) (9-4) 5th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Foreteller (9-4) at Flemington(AUS) 1m Grp 1 gd in Sep.
Fawkner (AUS) (8-9) won at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct, 18 ran.
Seville (AUS) (8-10) won at Randwick(AUS) 1m 4f stk in Oct, 15 ran.
Super Cool (AUS) 9-2 (9-2) 3rd of 5, 5l behind Atlantic Jewel (9-0) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Masked Marvel Montjeu horse out of Waldmark.
Mount Athos (IRE) 2-1fav (9-12) Took keen hold, tracked winner 2f, went 2nd again well over 2f out until 2f out, soon 2nd again, driven over 1f out, closed and strong challenge close home, just held, 2nd of 7, hd behind Harris Tweed (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 6f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in Aug.
Royal Empire 4-1 (9-3) Held up in 4th, effort 2f out, soon switched towards far side rail, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to take 2nd inside final furlong, no impression with winner, 2nd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Secret Number (8-7) at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) gs in Oct.
Voleuse De Coeurs (IRE) 9-1 (9-8) Soon settled mid-division, headway 4f out, led 3f out, ridden clear 2f out, kept on strongly, eased close home, won at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep beating Ahzeemah (9-11) by 6l, 10 ran.
Hawkspur (AUS) (8-8) 7th of 18, 2 1/2l behind Fawkner (8-9) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Simenon (IRE) 15-2 (8-13) 3rd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sea Moon (9-5) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Oct.
Ibicenco (AUS) (8-6) 12th of 15, 8l behind Seville (8-10) at Randwick(AUS) 1m 4f stk in Oct.
Verema (FR) 11-4fav (9-3) won at Deauville(FR) 1m 7f Grp 2 (1) gs in Aug beating Joshua Tree (9-8) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Dear Demi (AUS) (8-5) 3rd of 18, 1 1/2l behind Fawkner (8-9) at Caulfield(AUS) 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Tres Blue (IRE) 11-1 (8-6) won at Deauville(FR) 1m 4f Grp 2 gs in Aug beating Penglai Pavilion (8-6) by hd, 11 ran.
Ruscello (IRE) 6-1 (9-10) Led, headed 8f out, pressed leader, led again over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, lost 2nd close home, 3rd of 11, 2l behind Cat O'Mountain (8-12) at Kempton 1m 3f hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Sep.
