AURUM, one of three for Godolphin, could have got in lightly here having been placed in Listed company after his Newmarket debut success. Top Score needed his opening run here a year ago but continued to improve steadily and was only beaten a length in a Listed contest at HQ in August. The third Godolphin entry, Victory Wave, is very versatile and has won three of his last four though probably needs to improve again. The Queen has her first Meydan runner with Seniority, who had a cracking season in the UK scoring twice at Chelmsford before lifting the Golden Mile at Goodwood. He looks just the type for the Carnival while Never Back Down won a Listed race at Newbury in May. Mike De Kock will be keen to get a run into the classy Janoobi before he heads back into top company. Well beaten in his opening run last year he won the Group 2 Zabeel Mile later and was only beaten a length in the Group 1 Jebel Hatta. Jim Crowley has chosen him over his stable companion Suyoof, who he rode to victory in a handicap here in February.
Janoobi (SAF) 20-1 (9-0) 12th of 15, 16 1/2l behind Benbatl (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Top Score 20-1 (9-1) Tracked leader centre, led overall over 1f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, stayed on, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Limato (9-1) at Newmarket 6f lst stks (1) gf in Aug.
Suyoof (AUS) 9-4fav (9-6) 8th of 12, 9 3/4l behind Hors De Combat (8-11) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Feb.
Another Batt (IRE) 66-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway near side of group chasing leaders 3f out, led 2f out, soon ridden, headed inside final furlong, lost 3rd towards finish, 4th of 20, 1 1/2l behind Sharja Bridge (9-5) at Ascot 1m hcp (2) sft in Oct.
Seniority 25-1 (9-7) Raced stands side, held up, headway when switched right over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 22nd of 33, 28 3/4l behind Wissahickon (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 1f hcp (2) gf in Sep.
Ghaamer (USA) (9-6) last of 16, 28 1/2l behind Shamaal Nibras (9-6) at Abu Dhabi 1m in Nov.
Never Back Down (IRE) 4-1jfav (9-4) Keen in touch, pushed along and slightly outpaced over 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, led final strides, won at Lingfield 7f hcp (2) pol in Nov beating Areen Heart (8-6) by nk, 7 ran.
Portamento (IRE) 12-1 (9-5) 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Galvanize (9-6) at Meydan 1m hcp in Dec.
Victory Wave (USA) 7-2 (9-9) In touch, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead towards finish, won at Chelmsford City 7f hcp (2) pol in Sep beating Rufus King (9-8) by 1l, 12 ran.
Above N Beyond (9-2) 11th of 14, 13 1/4l behind Forjatt (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Amazour (IRE) 16-1 (9-8) In touch, pushed along halfway, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 14, 1 1/4l behind Ice Lord (9-1) at Doncaster 6f hcp (2) gs in Oct.
Aurum (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, held up last, headway between horses inside final 2f, soon hung left on camber, ridden over 1f out, went 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 6, 4 1/2l behind Lake Volta (9-0) at Epsom 7f lst stks (1) sft in Jun.
Ekhtiyaar 3-1 (9-12) Held up, effort on inside over 1f out, kept on, went 3rd close home, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Cenotaph (9-3) at Chelmsford City 6f hcp (2) pol in Jul.
Manahir (FR) 11-2 (9-4) 10th of 12, 31 3/4l behind High On Life (9-11) at Jebel Ali 7f hcp fst in Oct.
