Dream Today beat Abrantes a short-head in this last year and they meet on the same terms. Jamie Osborne's charge didn't well in the UK last summer but the runner-up won a minor race in Spain in October. EKHTIYAAR (NAP) is the form pick on his fine second place behind the long odds-on Blue Point in a Group 3 here in March. He's always needed his first run back and a spin around the Dirt track last month will have put him spot-on. Nine Below Zero would be a major threat on his neck second to Drafted in a Group 3 on Dirt last March but this will be his first run on Turf in the UAE. Summerghand arrives in top form having won a conditions' event at Wolverhampton on Boxing day but a 5lb rise gives him a bit to find.
Ekhtiyaar (9-0) 5th of 8, 12 1/2l behind Ibn Malik (9-0) at Meydan 6f lst stks fst in Dec.
Summerghand (IRE) 11-2 (9-3) In touch in rear, pushed along and headway approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on to lead towards finish, readily, won at Wolverhampton 6f stks (2) pol in Dec beating Documenting (9-3) by 1/2l, 6 ran.
Abrantes (SPA) (9-1) won at La Zarzuela 7f stks sft in Oct beating Blueberry (9-0), 8 ran.
Nine Below Zero (9-1) 7th of 9, 10l behind Gladiator King (9-1) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 stks gd in Jan.
Neverland Rock (9-1) last of 9, 22 1/4l behind Gladiator King (9-1) at Meydan 6f Grp 3 stks gd in Jan.
Dream Today (IRE) 8-1 (9-6) Slowly into stride, towards rear inside not clear run and switched right inside final 2f, hung left inside final furlong, kept on towards finish, not trouble leaders, 5th of 11, 5l behind Motagally (8-8) at Wolverhampton 6f hcp (3) pol in Oct.
Moqarrab (USA) (9-5) 15th of 16, 16 1/2l behind Yaalail (9-3) at Abu Dhabi 7f hcp gd in Dec.
Raafid (8-11) 8th of 12, 5 1/4l behind Almanaara (8-9) at Meydan 5f hcp gd in Jan.
