Satish Seemar has an outstanding record in this and there will be plenty of interest in his Grade 3 winning acquisition Gladiator King, three times a winner on Turf in the USA and twice on the Dirt at Gulfstream. He's reported to be almost ready for this and has been working with stable companion Lavaspin, who completed a hat-trick here last winter before stepping out of his comfort zone and finishing last behind DRAFTED in a Group 3 in March. Runner-up that day was Nine Below Zero, who was only beaten a neck, though he was a long way behind Ibn Malik when the latter beat Woody 4 lengths in a Listed contest last month when Walking Thunder was 11 lengths off the winner. There's little between several of them and race fitness will be the key so hopefully Doug Watson will have the selection fully tuned up.
Lavaspin 11-1 (9-0) last of 10, 35 1/4l behind Drafted (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Neverland Rock 9-2 (8-6) 2w 1/4, no response, 5th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Uncle Benny (8-8) at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Sep.
Nine Below Zero (9-0) 7th of 8, 21 3/4l behind Ibn Malik (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Walking Thunder (USA) (9-0) 4th of 8, 11 1/2l behind Ibn Malik (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Waady (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Ibn Malik (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Drafted (USA) 13-2 (9-0) 5th of 9, 4 1/4l behind X Y Jet (9-0) at Meydan 6f Grp 2 fst in Mar.
Gladiator King (USA) 3-1 (8-11) Forwardly,duel tn,wknd, 5th of 7, 13 1/4l behind Garter And Tie (8-11) at Gulfstream 6f stks fst in Jun.
Tour To Paris (FR) (8-12) won at Maisons-Laffitte 5f lst stks (1) sft in Oct beating The Right Man (8-12) by shd, 11 ran.
Ibn Malik (IRE) (9-0) won at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec beating Waady (9-0) by 4 3/4l, 8 ran.
