New trainer Maria Ritchie has taken over from the suspended Musabbeh Al Mheiri, who trained SPECIAL FIGHTER to a very easy victory in this last year before a fine run behind California Chrome in the Dubai World Cup. This time he arrives without a prep run but the opposition doesn't look quite as strong as a year ago and hopefully he'll be fit enough to do himself justice. Move Up is progressing nicely and completed a double when landing the Group 3 Cumberland Lodge at Ascot though he's taking on better opposition this time. Second Summer had strong form on Dirt in the USA and though just failing to overhaul Furia Cruzada early last month looks to have every chance of a form reversal. Ryan Moore is on board the Japan raider Lani, who won the UAE Derby last year. He's been performing at a high level subsequently and it will be a surprise if he's not involved in the finish.
Triple Nine (QA) 5-2fav (9-5) 4th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Alabaster (8-13) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Feb.
Long River (USA) (9-0) 8th of 9, dist behind Furia Cruzada (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Feb.
Move Up 5-1 (8-13) Led briefly, tracked leader, challenged 2f out, led over 1f out, narrowly headed and leant on by 2nd inside final furlong, rallied gamely to lead again close home, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct beating Arab Spring (9-4) by nk, 9 ran.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) (8-9) won at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Feb beating Second Summer (9-0) by ns, 9 ran.
Special Fighter (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, every chance 500m out, ran on same pace final 400m, 4th of 0, 5 1/4l behind California Chrome (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) fst in Mar.
Second Summer (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 9, shd behind Furia Cruzada (8-9) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Feb.
Mizbah (9-0) 5th of 11, 6l behind Farrier (9-0) at Jebel Ali 1m 2f lst stks (1) fst in Feb.
Lani (USA) (0-0) 9th of 15, shd behind at Chukyo 1m 1f in Dec.
