This lot should leave scorch-marks and there's a huge variety of different formlines. Amber Sky just held on from Ahtoug a year ago and looks to have been trained specifically for the race again. He's finished behind compatriots PENIAPHOBIA and Bundle Of Joy in Hong Kong this winter but this looks a question of which one gets to the front first. The former, who did so well as a juvenile for Richard Fahey, has proved a real money-spinner for Tony Cruz though he and Bundle Of Joy are very closely matched. Sole Power had a fantastic summer in the UK but his standards have slipped since he won the Nunthorpe and he was beaten in this last year. David Simcock's Caspar Netscher and the South African Group 1 winner Via Africa will be different propositions from the horses beaten behind Sir Maximilian three weeks ago while Wesley Ward knows exactly what it takes to land major sprints so Green Mask has to be respected. Farmah landed a Group 3 in Italy by six lengths but that was on very heavy ground.
Green Mask (USA) 19-10fav (8-8) Bumped start,4w-turn, 2nd of 9, 1l behind Amelia's Wild Ride (8-6) at Gulfstream(USA) 5f Arab gd in Feb.
Bundle Of Joy (AUS) (9-0) 2nd of 8, shd behind Peniaphobia (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 5f stk gf in Jan.
Hototo 6-1 (9-5) 2nd of 12, 1l behind Caspian Prince (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f hcp std in Feb.
Via Africa (SAF) (8-9) 9th of 18, 2 1/4l behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Farmah (USA) (8-9) 6th of 10, 10l behind Shaishee (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 6f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1).
Sir Maximilian (IRE) (9-0) won at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf, 18 ran.
Sole Power (9-0) 12th of 18, 2 3/4l behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Mirza 18-1 (9-10) 5th of 18, 1 1/4l behind Move In Time (9-10) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Stepper Point 12-1 (9-10) 9th of 18, 2l behind Move In Time (9-10) at Longchamp(FR) 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Amber Sky (AUS) (9-0) last of 8, 10l behind Peniaphobia (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 5f stk gf in Jan.
Caspar Netscher (9-0) 3rd of 18, 1/2l behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Caspian Prince (IRE) (9-0) 8th of 18, 2l behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Ahtoug (9-0) 2nd of 18, shd behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Distinctiv Passion (USA) 3-5fav (8-11) Met bid,drew clear, won at Santa Anita(USA) 6f stk fm in Feb beating Seeking The Sherif (8-6) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Lancelot Du Lac (ITY) (9-0) 4th of 18, 1 3/4l behind Sir Maximilian (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 5f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Peniaphobia (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 12, 1l behind Gold-Fun (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 6f stk gd in Feb.
