G1 – 1800m – Turf
| 1 | Championship | Has some very solid Meydan form in recent seasons including two G2 wins – albeit over shorter – in 2017. He seemed to be returning to near his best when leading for most of the way – only to be mown down by rival here Janoobi in a 1600m G2 here last month. |
| 2 | Neorealism | Well known to Hong Kong racefans who saw Joao Moreira give him a brilliant tactical ride – leading for the final 800m – in last April’s G1 AP QEII Cup over 2000m. No disgrace in his third in last December’s G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Cup and he has plenty going for him if Meydan suits him as well as Sha Tin. |
| 3 | Promising Run | Has won three Meydan G2’s – two of them over this distance. She did well to win on her penultimate start considering she raced too freely but was not quite good enough – still giving it her best shot – when fourth behind Blair House in a G1 here this month. |
| 4 | Trais Fluors | Won three of his five starts in France last season including when creeping from the back to land a 1600m G3 at Chantilly in June. From France’s dominant stable, he should be sharper for his recent second on Chantilly polytrack surface this month. |
| 5 | Benbatl | Classy in the UK – including a G3 success over 2000m – and really thriving in Meydan with three excellent performances this year over this distance. Nothing could live with him once in top gear for a G3 and G2 success and though just beaten by Blair House last time, he had a much worse trip than that rival. |
| 6 | Janoobi | The winner of one of his four starts at Meydan this season, that coming when he sat second before pouncing on today’s rival Championship in a 1600m G2 last month. He led 300m out in a G1 over this distance this month, and kept on for a brave third behind rivals here Blair House and Benbatl. |
| 7 | Vivlos | Gave Japan another victory in this race last year. She came from well off the speed that day, tending to run in snatches – also having her path blocked – still proving good enough on the softish surface. She hasn’t quite lived up to that run back in Japan since, but this has been the main target. |
| 8 | Real Steel | On his only ever start at Meydan this Japanese-trained horse overcame a tough gate to grab a prominent early position before leading 200m out to win this G1 in 2016. He bagged another big prize over this distance at Tokyo last October. Meydan dirt specialist Mickael Barzalona gets the ride here. |
| 9 | Monarchs Glen | Following a break and being gelded midway through last season in the UK, he improved significantly. Despite racing too freely as usual he posted a clear career best when coming from the rear to beat some smart rivals in a G3 over this distance at Newmarket last October. |
| 10 | War Decree | A lightly-raced four-year-old colt who was a G2 Goodwood winner in 2016 and wasn’t beaten far in Chantilly’s G1 Prix du Jockey Club the following year. However he struggled in G1’s – including the LONGINES Hong Kong Cup – on his last two starts. |
| 11 | Crocosmia | She narrowly got the better of today’s rival Vivlos – though getting weight from her – in a G2 over this distance in Tokyo last October. The following month she only narrowly failed to gain a shock win in a 2200m G1 in Kyoto, though she wasn’t at her best on the same track last time. |
| 12 | Lancaster Bomber | The winner only of a maiden race, but five times second in G1’s is a better measure of this tough colt’s ability. Last two starts included a fine second in a G1 at Del Mar and when finishing well ahead of the other European challengers in the G1 LONGINES Hong Kong Mile. |
| 13 | Deirdre | Christophe Lemaire resumes his partnership with this filly whom he also rode when she posted a career best to win a G1 over 2000m at Kyoto last October. Several less good runs over 2200m have followed but maybe Lemaire can get another big effort out of her here. |
| 14 | Leshlaa | Gave Blair House weight and a beating when easily landing a handicap here in February. He then only failed by a short-head to land a G3, albeit having a better trip than the winner. However he ran poorly behind many of these rivals in a G1 this month. |
| 15 | Blair House | His trainer says he’s amazed how much Blair House has improved in Meydan this season, putting it down to the sun on his back. Most recently he posted another career best, coming with his usual late surge to sweep past some of these rivals in a G1 over this distance. |
