tracked leaders on inside, headway into 2nd on inside entering final 2f out, ridden chasing winner until final 100 yards, stayed on same pace in 3rd, not quite pace of leading duo
raced wide in mid-division, steady headway on outside over 2f out, chased leaders 2f out, ridden in 3rd over 1f out, no extra in 4th inside final furlong
took keen hold, led 3f, chased leader, led again over 2f out, driven along over 1f out, stayed on gamely and just held on final strides, all out
held up in last pair, pushed along 3f out, ridden on inside and beaten over 2f out
held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, reminders over 3f out, soon beaten
took keen hold, tracked leader 3f, tracked leading pair, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and hung badly left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
steadied start, held up last, stayed on final furlong, never going pace to get into contention
mid-division on inside, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
held up towards rear, headway travelling well looking for room and switched out over 2f out, driven along on outside and stayed on chasing leaders over 1f out, went 2nd final 100 yards and closed on winner, just failed
restless in stalls, awkwardly away, behind, rapid headway on wide outside to lead 7f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened rapidly, tailed off
This depends on the sharpness, or lack of it, of AL KAZEEM, who has won first time back in his last two seasons. Roger Charlton's stable star, a triple Group 1 winner last term with victories in the Eclipse, Prince Of Wales's and Tattersalls Gold Cup, ran better than his finishing position suggests in the Arc on his final start and looks in a different league to these rivals. If he's ready after an unsuccessful spell at stud he should get back on the winning trail. Andre Fabre doesn't send horses to the UK for their health so Triple Threat has to be on the shortlist, especially as he's one of the few horses in France who likes quick ground. Vancouverite, a Group 2 winner at Deauville last term, finished runner-up in the Jebel Hatta at Meydan before a fair effort in the Dubai World Cup though hasn't run subsequently while Nabucco, though up against numerous Group winners, is penalised for a Listed success at Newmarket in November.
Nabucco 11-4 (9-3) Tracked leader, stayed in centre in straight, every chance as groups merged approaching final 2f, ridden and stayed on into 3rd inside final furlong, kept on but not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 7, 2l behind French Navy (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f Listed stks (1) sft in May.
Al Kazeem 16-1 (9-5) 6th of 17, 11l behind Treve (8-8) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Amralah (IRE) 7-1 (9-5) Led after 1f, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on one pace, 2nd of 6, 2 1/2l behind Windhoek (9-5) at Sandown 1m 2f Listed stks (1) gf.
Baltic Knight (IRE) 7-1 (9-4) Held up in last trio, headway on outside 2f out, went 2nd and strong challenge inside final furlong, stayed on under pressure, always just held, 2nd of 10, nk behind Custom Cut (9-4) at Windsor 1m Listed stks (1) gs in Jun.
Battle Of Marengo (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) 12th of 15, 6l behind Excellent Result (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 std in Mar.
Out Of Bounds 11-2 (9-2) Led after 1f, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened final furlong, last of 5, 8l behind Ocean Tempest (9-6) at Windsor 1m Listed stks (1) sft in May.
Sir Walter Scott (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Chased leaders in 3rd, ridden 2f out, 2nd 1 1/2f out, under pressure in 3rd when slightly hampered 1f out, kept on final furlong to 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Heirloom (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Listed stks (1) gd in Oct.
Triple Threat (FR) 20-1 (9-2) 7th of 8, 33l behind Cirrus Des Aigles (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Grp 1 sft in Apr.
Vancouverite 16-1 (9-0) 8th of 16, 12l behind African Story (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.
Zaidiyn (FR) (8-12) 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Ederan (8-12) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m 4f 4yo stk sft in May.
