Hit The Bid and Dutch Masterpiece occupied the places in this last year behind Ertijaal then finished 1-2 in a handicap the following month. They reappear on the same terms with probably the same result. Marnie James, Orvar and Freescape all won last time out in the UK and Ireland. The form looks just short of what will be required and the latter, placed over a mile in Listed company here in March, has never raced over a trip this short. FAATINAH made a successful debut on the track a year ago and also scored after an absence in Australia in August. He's been racing at a higher level subsequently and is well enough drawn to go in again. Mike De Kock's Alfolk won a Group 3 at Turffontein a year ago but couldn't make the step up to Group 1 company a few weeks later. Race Day, four times a winner for Godolphin in the UK, has a handy racing weight but isn't well drawn.
Faatinah (AUS) (9-6) 8th of 13, 3 1/4l behind Malibu Style (9-2) at Sandown 5f hcp lst gd in Nov.
Hit The Bid 4-1 (9-11) Chased leaders in 4th, ridden under 2f out, headway to lead 1f out, stayed on well final furlong, won at Dundalk 5f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Oct beating Encore d'Or (9-11) by 1/2l, 9 ran.
Alfolk (AUS) 9-1 (8-13) 7th of 14, 3 1/4l behind Sergeant Hardy (9-6) at Kenilworth 5f gd in Jan.
Marnie James 6-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders, edged left and effort over 1f out, soon led, edged right entering final furlong, went clear, ran on, comfortably, won at Chelmsford City 5f hcp (2) pol in Sep beating Mountain Peak (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Dutch Masterpiece 9-1 (9-0) last of 10, dist behind Drafted (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Waady (IRE) 17-2 (9-11) 4th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Lytham St Annes (9-1) at Meydan 6f hcp in Dec.
Orvar (IRE) 11-2 (9-8) Tracked leaders, switched left approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on, won at Beverley 5f stks (3) gs in Sep beating Perfect Pasture (9-7) by 2 1/4l, 7 ran.
Ibn Malik (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) 2nd of 10, shd behind Drafted (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Circle Dream (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) 9th of 10, dist behind Drafted (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Freescape 13-2 (9-3) A little slowly away, raced in 6th early, soon 5th, closed travelling smoothly straight, ridden to challenge from over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Dundalk 6f hcp pol in Nov beating Admirality (9-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Race Day (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 1 1/2l behind Mukalal (9-8) at Leicester 7f hcp (3) gf in Sep.
Yard Line (USA) 7-1 (9-6) 4th of 11, 9 3/4l behind Stunned (9-8) at Meydan 6f hcp fst in Nov.
