Once again Godolphin have half of the field entered with jockey bookings suggesting SECRET PROTECTOR is likely to be a warm order. William Buick was on board when the very expensive son of War Front won a novices' event at Kempton in very easy style and he'll have been identified as a likely money-spinner here. The once-raced Mystical Dawn, a €500,000 Sea The Stars colt, landed a Newmarket maiden in October and the third came out and won next time. Newcastle winner Leopardo never got close enough on his debut on Dirt here three weeks ago and makes his debut on Turf but Grand Dubai, a winner here in December, should find this less testing than the Group 3 he ran in last week.
Areen (USA) (8-9) 7th of 15, 10 3/4l behind El Patriota (9-5) at Meydan 1m 1f stks in Jan.
Grand Dubai (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 6, 10 3/4l behind Mouheeb (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks (1) in Feb.
Leopardo (USA) (8-9) 6th of 15, 9 1/4l behind El Patriota (9-5) at Meydan 1m 1f stks in Jan.
Mystical Dawn (IRE) 15-8fav (9-5) Held up, headway over 2f out, chased leader over 1f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Oct beating Meritorious (9-5) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Secret Protector (USA) 1-4fav (9-5) Chased leader, ridden to lead 2f out, ran on well, impressive, won at Kempton 7f stks (5) pol in Sep beating State Secretary (9-5) by 4 1/4l, 11 ran.
Underwater Attack (9-0) last of 8, dist behind Grand Dubai (9-0) at Meydan 1m mdn stks fst in Dec.
Final Thought (IRE) (8-5) 8th of 15, 11 1/4l behind El Patriota (9-5) at Meydan 1m 1f stks in Jan.
Revolutme (IRE) (9-0) last of 7, dist behind Soft Whisper (9-0) at Meydan 1m lst stks (1) in Jan.
