CANDY BOY came here for the 2015 World Cup where he ran well to finish fourth but was injured in the process and didn't reappear until this year's spectacular. He wasn't beaten all that far behind California Chrome and if anywhere near his best will take all the beating despite an outside berth. Doug Watson also runs the in-form Etijaah and last year's runner-up Storm Belt but neither have the class of their stablemate. Rembrandt Van Rijn completed a hat-trick in handicaps over this trip in the UK and made a very pleasing UAE debut in a Group 3 at Abu Dhabi in March though hasn't run subsequently. Gold City finished runner-up in a similar race to this over a mile a year ago and has only once run beyond that trip when well beaten behind Special Fighter in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge. He's a class act on his day but it's a long time since he won a race. Prince Of All won at this level when trained in Ireland but hasn't run for over two years.
Los Barbados (IRE) (8-9) 2nd of 6, nk behind Forjatt (9-5) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f stks fst in Mar.
Top Clearance (USA) (9-2) 5th of 10, 10 1/4l behind Need To Know (8-13) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Nov.
Ennobled Friend (USA) (9-2) 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Need To Know (8-13) at Meydan 1m stks fst in Nov.
Rembrandt Van Rijn (IRE) (9-0) 3rd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Khusoosy (8-13) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f Grp 3 (1) gd in Mar.
Interpret (USA) (9-2) 8th of 10, 23 3/4l behind Sharpalo (8-5) at Jebel Ali 1m 1f stks fst in Nov.
Gold City (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Never better than mid-division, 8th of 0, 17 1/4l behind One Man Band (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 1m Grp 2 fst in Mar.
Trinity Force (IRE) 11-4 (8-8) 5th of 12, 8 1/4l behind Tried And True (8-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Dec.
Etijaah (USA) (8-9) won at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Nov beating Handsome Man (8-6) by 5 1/4l, 10 ran.
Storm Belt (USA) (9-6) 6th of 10, 15 3/4l behind Etijaah (8-9) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Nov.
Hunting Ground (USA) (8-5) Tracked leader, every chance 400m out, outpaced final 300m but ran on same pace, 4th of 8, 4 1/2l behind California Chrome (9-6) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Feb.
Candy Boy (USA) 100-1 (9-0) Mid-division, ran on final 400m but never able to challenge, 7th of 0, 5 3/4l behind California Chrome (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) fst in Mar.
Prince Of All Evensfav (9-5) Soon led, ridden and headed early straight, no impression in 3rd 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 7, at Dundalk 1m 3f lst stks (1) pol in Oct.