1

Al Riffa

A wide trip on very soft ground ended his chances in the Arc but other cracking 2024 performances included a G1 Hoppegarten win and a 1L second to LONGINES joint-best world racehorse City Of Troy at Sandown suggests strong chances here.

2

Bolide Porto

Formerly French based but now well proven over this course and distance, winning two of his last three starts here and showing impressive acceleration from off the pace last time.

3

Calif

Slow at the start but strong at the finish when 1.5L third in this last year. A G3 Longchamp win and a G1 Munich win followed though he couldn’t make an impact in the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup on his final 2024 start.

4

Haunted Dream

Fast ground looks to suit best, judging by a Goodwood win last year. Limbered up for this with a close second at Doha in January. Has stamina so a fast pace would suit though a win would be a surprise.

5

Killer Ability

Whilst a bit of an underachiever since winning a 2000m G1 at Nakayama back in 2021, he did finish a fine second in this last year despite being a long-odds outsider. Well below that level in a Bahrain G2 in November.

6

Shin Emperor

Plenty of excuses – notably the very slow ground – for his modest run in the 2024 Arc but other starts indicate that this Japanese contender has a big winning chance. That includes his subsequent dead-heat for second in the Japan Cup. A strong pace would help, and he may set it.

7

Sovereign Spirit

A decent handicapper when trained in the UK, and with a decent win and place record in Bahrain since then. But meets some notably stronger opposition here.

8

Spirit Dancer

Didn’t figure behind Romantic Warrior in the 2024 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup but has some excellent form in the Middle East notably when his powerful finish resulted in victory in this last year. Likely to again make a significant impact in this G2.

9

Straight

A dismal effort in a G1 at Munich on his final 2024 start needs forgetting. Before then he had posted career bests when a close second to prolific winner Rebel’s Romance in a G1 in Cologne and then when thrashing seven rivals in a G2 in Milan.

10

Trustyourinstinct

Strong at the end when winning a 2400m Leopardstown G3 last September. Equally effective over a shorter trip, and highly consistent in his career so far. An interesting contender. Likely to be right up with the speed from the start.