Russian Soul can be a bit in and out but has tremendous pace at his best and was only just touched off in this a year ago by today's rival United Color, who will be 2lb worse off. He's likely to be in the mix while Muarrab had United Color a neck behind at Jebel Ali a year ago so there's very little between the trio. Touch Gold's hat-trick came at a lower level and he's high enough in the weights now but Caspian Prince led for a long way on Turf here last week before fading and may be better suited by the Dirt surface. REYNALDOTHEWIZARD is unlikely to be good enough to land a Golden Shaheen these days, as he did in 2013, and was well beaten in this a year ago. However, he started favourite that day and got no sort of run so is taken to show he retains his ability and make a successful reappearance.
Russian Soul (IRE) 9-4 (10-2) Held up, ridden in 6th halfway, switched to outer over 2f out, stayed on in 5th 1f out, kept on to 3rd inside final furlong, no impression on leaders, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Sir Maximilian (10-2) at Dundalk 5f lst stks 2yo (1) pol in Oct.
United Color (USA) (9-3) 5th of 7, 10l behind Muarrab (9-0) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 6f Conditions Stakes (2yo+) in Dec.
Touch Gold (IRE) 6-1 (8-13) won at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Mar beating Mujaazef (9-4) by 1 1/4l, 14 ran.
Almargo (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) 10th of 13, 7l behind Safety Check (8-11) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp gd.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Hototo (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 5f hcp gd.
Conveyance (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Rafeej (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 6f lst stks 2yo (1) in Dec.
Reynaldothewizard (USA) 5-1 (9-6) 4th of 13, 4l behind Sterling City (9-6) at Meydan(UAE) 6f fll stks Grp 1 (1) in Mar.
Muarrab (9-0) won at Jebel Ali(UAE) 6f Conditions Stakes (2yo+) in Dec, 7 ran.
Muaanid 20-1 (9-1) won at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp in Dec beating Ajraam (8-9) by 2 3/4l, 13 ran.
