G2 – 1000m – Turf
| 1 | Fityaan | A veteran sprinter who is twice a course and distance winner here, including at G3 level in 2016. Some solid efforts here last year as well but this late closer faces a really stiff task on this 2018 debut. Has changed stables. |
| 2 | Blue Point | A quality colt from a stable enjoying a terrific Meydan Carnival though this is his debut here and he also drops down to 1000m for the first time. He has twice finished close-up in G1’s in the UK and his gate-to-wire G3 victory over 1200m at Ascot last October was another excellent performance from this tough and reliable speedster. |
| 3 | Out Do | Delivered with a powerful surge, he ended a long losing run to beat 26 rivals in a prestigious Royal Ascot handicap over 1200m last June. Has performed quite well at Meydan this year including a close fourth in a 1000m handicap last month but facts and figures suggest he will struggle in this hot G2. |
| 4 | Ertijaal | Virtually unbeatable over this course and distance. When he won this last year he became the first horse to dip under 56 seconds for this straight 1000m, and, giving plenty of weight to his rivals, he was again dominant – almost from the start – in a handicap here last month. Tough to beat, surely. |
| 5 | Sir Maximilian | This elderly sprinter gained a short-head victory in a G3 over this course and distance in 2015 but has been beaten on his last 15 starts including finishing well behind Ertijaal on a couple of occasions. Usually sits in mid-division. |
| 6 | Hit The Bid | Has taken to this course and distance really well and pushed Ertijaal hard – only beaten 1/2L – in a handicap here last month though is now 12lb worse off in the weights in this G2. He then won a handicap earlier this month, leading early and fighting hard to keep his advantage. |
