OUTSTRIP tried the Dirt surface for the first time in the Group 2 Al Maktoum Challenge last month but never posed a threat. He started favourite on the back of his impressive form in the UK which included a victory over The Grey Gatsby in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and can surely do better now back on Turf. His stablemate Safety Check arrives in superb form having landed the Group 2 Al Fahidi Fort and is an obvious danger while Dark Emerald has done so well for Brendan Powell that a first pattern race victory is by no means out of the question. Mike De Kock has three engaged but Anaerobio hasn't been at his best and is held by Dark Emerald. But the former Aidan O'Brien-trained Johann Strauss was having his first start since May when beaten a nose in a Listed contest at Abu Dhabi 11 days ago so should be ready while another ex-Coolmore entry, Darwin, is very much better than he showed on his reappearance here a fortnight ago.
Earnshaw (USA) (9-2) 2nd of 9, 2l behind Planetaire (8-11) at Clairefontaine(FR) 1m 1f 3yo lst stk sft in Aug.
Dark Emerald (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) won at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp std beating Fils Anges (8-10) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.
Outstrip (9-0) 11th of 15, 21l behind Surfer (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 2 sks (1) in Jan.
Anaerobio (ARG) 6-1 (9-6) 4th of 16, 4l behind Dark Emerald (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp std.
Safety Check (IRE) (9-0) won at Meydan(UAE) 7f Grp 2 (1) std in Jan, 10 ran.
Emirate's Girl (ARG) 25-1 (8-13) last of 14, 21l behind Solow (9-1) at Longchamp(FR) 1m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
Empire Storm (GER) (9-0) 3rd of 10, 8l behind Tamarkuz (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1).
Short Squeeze (IRE) 8-1 (9-3) 2nd of 16, nk behind Samurai Sword (9-1) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcp fst.
Rostrum (FR) (8-13) 10th of 14, 7l behind Ertijaal (8-13) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 7f Listed stks (1) gd.
Darwin (9-0) 7th of 10, 20l behind Tamarkuz (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1).
