Charlie Appleby sent out last year’s winner and MODERN GAMES looks to have leading claims. He came up short in soft going at Ascot last time but can edge this on an earlier impressive victory in the Woodbine Mile with Ivar well behind. Kinross arrives in the form of his life having landed a couple of Group 1 events last month and he has already beaten Malavath and Pogo this year but Dreamloper has won Group 1 races on trips over to France this term and beat Order Of Australia at Longchamp in September. The latter won this over track and trip back in 2020 but finished behind Annapolis in a Grade 1 contest here earlier in the month. Regal Glory and stablemate Domestic Spending are both winners at the highest level with the former preferred over today’s trip.
Pogo (IRE) 7-4 (9-5) Made all, ridden approaching final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Sacred (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Shirl's Speight (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Steadied1/4, improved, 4th of 11, 7l behind Modern Games (8-11) at Woodbine 1m stks gd in Sep.
Dreamloper (IRE) (9-1) won at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 1 gs in Sep beating Order Of Australia (9-4) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.
Modern Games (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Close up, pushed along 2f out, ridden and kept on from 1f out, took second final strides, 2nd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Bayside Boy (9-3) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Smooth Like Strait (USA) 9-4 (8-13) Long drv str, no match, 2nd of 8, 1 3/4l behind Santin (8-13) at Churchill Downs 1m 1f stks gd in Aug.
Ivar (BRZ) 5-1 (9-0) 3p,6p upr,up place btw, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Annapolis (8-11) at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Beyond Brilliant (USA) 9-10fav (9-0) Pace inside, held safe, won at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct beating Cathkin Peak (8-10) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Regal Glory (USA) 21-20fav (8-12) Track 2-3p,aim,2nd bst, 2nd of 6, 1l behind In Italian (8-12) at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Malavath (IRE) (8-10) 2nd of 10, 2l behind Kinross (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 1 hvy in Oct.
Order Of Australia (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Slow st,ins,4wupr,chsd, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Annapolis (8-11) at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Annapolis (USA) 6-1 (8-11) Ins,bid 2w1/8,cleared, won at Keeneland 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Ivar (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 11 ran.
Kinross 3-1fav (9-4) Tracked leaders in near side group, shaken up going well over 2f out, quickened to lead over 1f out, went clear inside final furlong, comfortably, won at Ascot 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct beating Run To Freedom (9-4) by 2 1/4l, 18 ran.
Domestic Spending 2-5fav (9-0) 5p 2nd, best 1/16, 2nd of 8, nk behind Two Emmys (9-0) at Arlington 1m 2f stks gd in Aug.
Front Run The Fed (USA) 17-2 (8-9) Came 5 wide, belatedly, 4th of 11, 3l behind Bran (8-13) at Kentucky Downs 6f stks gd in Sep.
King Cause (USA) 15-1 (8-11) In hand ins, held well, won at Belmont At The Big A 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Pixelate (8-9) by 2l, 10 ran.
Gear Jockey (USA) 11-1 (8-8) Prss2w,float 5p1/4,wkn, 4th of 9, 3 1/2l behind Golden Pal (8-12) at Keeneland 5f Grp 2 (1) gd in Oct.