Sky Hunter, third in the 2013 French Derby, lost a Listed contest at Ayr when a prohibited substance was found in his blood. He then turned Newbury's St Simon Stakes into a procession where the soft ground undoubtedly suited. Unless there's a downpour he may have to play second fiddle to his stablemate True Story, who landed a Listed contest over 1m1f and was certainly not disgraced when runner-up to Vercingetorix next time. However, he's never won beyond 1m1f and the only time he raced over this trip was in last year's Derby where he finished in mid-division. SHEIKHZAYEDROAD is the obvious threat to the Godolphin pair and is handed the vote as though only sixth a year ago he undoubtedly progressed as the season unfolded and later landed the Grade 1 Northern Dancer Turf at Woodbine. The remainder will need to raise their game though the former South America-trained Group 1 winner Cooptado looks capable of doing so and Umgiyo is already on the scoresheet here, though over much shorter.
Cooptado (ARG) (9-0) 6th of 11, 5l behind Frankyfourfingers (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Group 2 sks (1) in Feb.
Zambucca (SAF) 16-1 (8-10) 8th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Haafaguinea (9-1) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Brass Ring 16-1 (9-9) Held up towards rear of mid-division, headway on outside 4f out, effort to challenge 2f out, kept on and every chance inside final furlong, held towards finish, 4th of 33, 2l behind Big Easy (8-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp (2) gd in Oct.
Sheikhzayedroad 28-1 (9-5) Held up and detached in rear, driven along and hung right final 2f, went modest 6th inside final furlong, 6th of 9, 7l behind Noble Mission (9-5) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Oct.
True Story 11-10fav (8-13) 2nd of 6, 2l behind Vercingetorix (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 2 gf in Jan.
Mickdaam (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) 4th of 13, 1 1/4l behind Famous Kid (8-6) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f hcp fst in Feb.
Sky Hunter 7-2fav (9-4) Tracked leading trio, smoooth headway into 2nd 3f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, eased towards finish, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct beating Island Remede (8-8) by 9l, 8 ran.
Umgiyo (AUS) (9-0) 2nd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Hunter's Light (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Listed stks (1) std in Feb.
Ayahuasca (USA) 33-1 (9-5) last of 12, 40l behind Flying The Flag (9-3) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Pilote (IRE) 4-1fav (9-4) 6th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Tha'ir (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Songcraft (IRE) 11-4fav (8-10) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb beating Al Saham (8-10) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
