Yibir won this for Charlie Appleby last year having landed a prep-race at Belmont beforehand and NATIONS PRIDE has followed the same route. The latter also beat a subsequent dual winner in a Grade 1 at Saratoga earlier and is preferred to stablemate Rebel's Romance, who has won a couple of Group 1 races in Germany. Mishriff has run his best races over shorter trips so far this year while last year’s runner-up Broome is not the force of old with Ryan Moore preferring the latter’s stable companion Stone Age. The home team look to be led by War Like Goddess, who beat Bye Bye Melvin in the Turf Classic at Belmont last time, though Highland Chief won a Grade 3 contest over track and trip with Channel Maker behind.
Bye Bye Melvin (USA) 13-2 (9-0) Ins,2p1/4,gamely 2nd, 2nd of 7, 2 3/4l behind War Like Goddess (8-11) at Belmont At The Big A 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
War Like Goddess (USA) 20-21fav (8-11) 2-3path,bid3/16,clear, won at Belmont At The Big A 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct beating Bye Bye Melvin (9-0) by 2 3/4l, 7 ran.
Stone Age (IRE) 40-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed over 2f out, no extra and faded inside final furlong, 5th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Bay Bridge (9-7) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Oct.
Broome (IRE) (9-5) 8th of 20, 8 1/4l behind Alpinista (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 hvy in Oct.
Rebel's Romance (IRE) (9-6) won at Cologne 1m 4f gs in Sep beating Sammarco (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Channel Maker (USA) 12-1 (8-13) Press 2w,chasd,falterd, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Highland Chief (8-13) at Keeneland 1m 4f stks gd in Oct.
Nations Pride (IRE) 11-20fav (8-10) Tracked ins,went clear, won at Belmont At The Big A 1m 4f stks gd in Sep beating The Grey Wizard (8-10) by 6 1/4l, 6 ran.
Master Piece (CHI) 11-5fav (8-11) Rallied 5deep,led late, 2nd of 11, hd behind Gold Phoenix (8-6) at Del Mar 1m 3f hcp gd in Sep.
Gold Phoenix (IRE) 13-10fav (9-0) Steadied early,game3rd, 3rd of 6, 1/4l behind Masteroffoxhounds (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m 2f stks gd in Oct.
Red Knight (USA) 7-1 (8-13) Steady 7/8,7w1/4,level, 8th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Highland Chief (8-13) at Keeneland 1m 4f stks gd in Oct.
Mishriff (IRE) (9-5) 13th of 20, 17 3/4l behind Alpinista (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 hvy in Oct.
Nautilus (BRZ) 14-1 (8-13) won at Gavea 1m 4f Grp 1 in Jun beating Don Cambay (8-13) by nk, 14 ran.
Highland Chief (IRE) 13-2 (8-13) Ins,rail bid,held sway, won at Keeneland 1m 4f stks gd in Oct beating Temple (8-13) by 1l, 12 ran.