Godolphin have an outstanding record in this and have a very strong hand with Calare and REALLY SPECIAL. The former, twice runner-up in Listed company, then landed a similar race at the Curragh in October. The latter had Kazimeira almost three lengths in second when scoring at Newmarket and there is little between the Godolphin pair on a line through the latter though Saeed Bin Suroor's filly looks to have the most scope and holds Island Vision on that victory at HQ. Another from the same stable, Voice Of Truth, a narrow winner at Chelmsford in October, will need to improve to take a hand but Doug Watson won the race a year ago with Polar River, who went on to do the classic double. The UAE champion trainer also has a trio of entries with Complimenti making a nice start here last month despite looking very green. She may be good enough to finish in front of her much more experienced stable companion Mabrouka on a line with Nomorerichblondes. Rajar completed an early season hat-trick for Richard Hannon and ended the campaign with a placed effort in a Listed contest at Chantilly for Richard Fahey so she's one to keep an eye on.
Calare (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along 3f out, bumped slightly 2f out, switched left to outer over 1f out, challenged and turned head towards rival inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead close home, won at Curragh 1m lst fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Oct beating Bound (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Decruz (IRE) (8-9) last of 8, 30 1/4l behind Kahrab (9-0) at Meydan 7f mdn stks gd in Jan.
Don't Lie Kitten (USA) 6-1 (8-7) 13th of 14, 29 1/4l behind Mathematics (9-1) at Meydan 7f hcp fst in Dec.
French Pass 66-1 (9-0) Dwelt, always behind, 8th of 10, 8l behind Gilgamesh (9-5) at Nottingham 6f mdn stks (5) gd in Aug.
Island Vision (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Mid-division, headway 3f out, effort over 1f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 10, 3 1/4l behind Really Special (9-0) at Newmarket 1m lst fll stks (1) gf in Oct.
Mabrouka (8-9) 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Nomorerichblondes (8-9) at Meydan 7f mdn fll stks fst in Dec.
Midnight Chica (USA) (8-5) 10th of 13, 21 1/4l behind Mathematics (8-13) at Meydan 6f hcp fst in Dec.
Nomorerichblondes (USA) (8-11) 4th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Van Der Decken (9-2) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Dec.
Rajar (8-10) 3rd of 13, 4l behind Simmie (8-10) at Chantilly 5f lst stks pol in Nov.
Really Special 2-1fav (9-0) Keen, made all, ridden 2f out, ran on strongly final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m lst fll stks (1) gf in Oct beating Kazimiera (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Sasha Waltz (IRE) (8-11) won at Bro Park 1m stks fst in Oct
Spanish Moon (RUS) (8-13) won at Nalchik 6f stks fst in Jul
Voice Of Truth (IRE) 9-4jfav (9-0) Keen, tracked leaders, led approaching final furlong, ridden out, won at Chelmsford City 7f mdn stks (5) pol in Oct beating Cliffs Of Capri (9-5) by nk, 8 ran.
Complimenti (USA) (8-7) 3rd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Van Der Decken (9-2) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Dec.
Nalout (USA) (8-7) 6th of 8, 16 3/4l behind Van Der Decken (9-2) at Meydan 7f stks fst in Dec.
Xara's Rule Delegator filly out of Lady Xara.
