Dubai Future finished second to Walton Street in this last year and to the winner in a Grade 2 later. He's one of five for Godolphin here headed in the ratings by Passion And Glory, well beaten in two runs here last winter but a big improver back in the UK, completing a hat-trick culminating in the Group 3 Glorious Stakes at Goodwood. STAR SAFARI has a fine record here, winning three times out of five starts including a Group 3. He's also won first-time-back so the lack of a run shouldn't be a problem. William Buick would probably have had the pick and has gone for Wirko, who has only had four runs, winning at Kempton and in Listed company at Epsom. He has plenty of potential but could just need the experience here. Recordman wasn't far behind the selection here in February and looks best of his in-form yard's three entries.
Passion And Glory (IRE) (9-6) 3rd of 7, 4 3/4l behind Torquator Tasso (9-6) at Baden-Baden 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Sep.
Star Safari 6-5fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, soon dropped to rear, eased 2f out, last of 4, 23 3/4l behind Without A Fight (9-5) at Newmarket 1m 4f lst stks (1) gf in Sep.
Dubai Future (9-1) 8th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Lord Glitters (9-4) at Sakhir 1m 2f Grp 3 in Nov.
Master Bloom (SWE) (9-6) won at Klampenborg 1m 1f sft in Oct beating King David (9-6) by 1/2l, 3 ran.
Suspicious Mind (DEN) (9-6) won at Jagersro 1m 4f lst in Oct.
Alignak 11-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along in 2nd over 2f out, led briefly 2f out, dropped to 3rd and ridden over 1f out, kept on until no extra and held close home, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Nicholas T (9-3) at Newcastle 2m stks (2) pol in Dec.
Global Heat (IRE) 6-1 (10-2) Tracked leaders, pushed along and carried head high over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, rallied to go 2nd towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Fabilis (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 4f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Wirko (GER) 6-4fav (9-0) Led, increased tempo 4f out, headed 2f out, weakened quickly from over 1f out, 4th of 6, 9 3/4l behind Youth Spirit (9-0) at Chester 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in May.
Irish Freedom (USA) (9-0) 3rd of 8, 3l behind Desert Peace (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f stks fst in Jan.
Majestic Mambo (SAF) (9-0) 7th of 8, 20 3/4l behind Desert Peace (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f stks fst in Jan.
Mordin (IRE) (9-0) 6th of 8, 19 1/2l behind Desert Peace (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f stks fst in Jan.
Recordman (9-8) 2nd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Dolmen (8-10) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f gd in Dec.
Zaman (9-2) 8th of 13, 7 3/4l behind Moqtarreb (9-2) at Abu Dhabi 1m gd in Dec.
Dolmen (FR) (8-10) won at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f gd in Dec beating Recordman (9-8) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Mudaarab (USA) (9-8) 8th of 16, 11 1/2l behind Zorion (9-7) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Apr.
Mekong 7-1 (9-3) Very slowly away, closed up to track leader after four furlongs, pushed along over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened well over 1f out, 3rd of 4, 11 1/2l behind Fancy Man (8-9) at Lingfield 1m 4f stks (3) pol in Sep.
