G1 – 1200m – Dirt
| 1 | Roy H | Off the back of some stunning performances in the US he started hot favourite for this last year but after a sluggish start was only third to two other US raiders. Again arrives here in fantastic form including a repeat victory in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, a monster performance that day. Likely warm favourite again. |
| 2 | Imperial Hint | Has history with Roy H, having finished second and third to him in the last two runnings of the Breeders’ Cup Sprint, at Del Mar and Churchill Downs. This powerful dirt galloper rarely disappoints and was twice a G1 winner at this trip last year. Having his first start outside the US. |
| 3 | X Y Jet | Leading or racing prominently he has come desperately close to winning this race, beaten a neck in 2016 and a head in 2018. Limbered up for this when flying the gates and never threatened in a condition event at Gulfstream Park last month. |
| 4 | Promises Fulfilled | There is a lot of early speed in this, including from this colt as he showed when winning a 1400m G1 at Saratoga last August. He led in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Churchill Downs on his last start but was gunned down and behind today’s rivals Roy H and Imperial Hint. |
| 5 | Drafted | The locally trained star at this discipline who will no doubt try to run his rivals down late, and he may be helped with so much early speed in this. His G3 wins – over this distance in January and March – were only gained narrowly but he always gives the impression there is better to come. |
| 6 | Switzerland | Has twice won G3’s over this distance in the US. However none of his three Meydan starts this year suggest that he is likely to land this G1, especially with more accomplished US rivals in the field. Led for some of the way in a G3 this month, but faded late on. |
| 7 | Nine Below Zero | Appears to have improved since moving from the UK onto the Meydan dirt surface. He has twice finished behind Drafted, though he did get much closer to today’s rival when only beaten a neck here earlier this month. Arguably though, he did get an ideal passage in that G3. |
| 8 | Tato Key | A specialist in dirt sprint races in Argentina where his record was 12 wins from 14 starts. Has run really well in both Meydan starts – G3’s at this distance – but has been narrowly bettered by today’s rival Drafted each time. He will need to take another step forward if he is to have a serious chance here. |
| 9 | Matera Sky | An outsider in this event last year and travelled well enough but simply wasn’t good enough – finishing 5th. Nothing special from his recent starts back in Japan to suggest he will do much better this time. One of many in this field who likes to go forward early. |
| 10 | Fight Hero | Joao Moreira partners this gelding for the first time. A sustained late charge saw him victorious in a Class 2 event over this distance at Sha Tin last June and, despite a difficult gate, he very nearly plundered a local G1 at Seoul in September. Another good show was a 4th – a race run in a super-quick time – at Sha Tin in December. |
