Racecards
15:05 Meydan (UAE)
Balanchine Sponsored By Citizen K Group 2 Stakes - Turf (Class 1)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 1m 1f
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- AED 738,213 added
- Winner: AED 422,329
- 2nd: AED 159,749
- 3rd: AED 79,359
- 4th: AED 36,320

In depth
Verdict
VERY SPECIAL won this last year after she had landed the Cape Verdi and is treading a familiar path having beaten most of these rivals in that Group 2 in January. Although she didn't have much in hand at the finish over Opal Tiara and Muffri'Ha she did enough to suggest she can follow up. Fourth-placed Silver Step came from a long way off the pace and can get closer but her stable companion Via Firenze missed the break and never got involved. The latter was beaten into third by Realtra in a Listed contest at Deauville in December but turned the tables on Roger Varian's mare in the Cape Verdi, though the latter didn't look at her best.
Formwatch
Silver Step (FR) 40-1 (9-0) 4th of 0, 1l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.
Opal Tiara (IRE) 20-1 (9-0) 2nd of 0, 1/2l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.
Muffri'Ha (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) 3rd of 0, 3/4l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.
Very Special (IRE) 5-6 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan beating Opal Tiara (9-0) by 1/2l, 0 ran.
Realtra (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) 7th of 0, 4 1/2l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.
Via Firenze (IRE) 40-1 (9-0) 6th of 0, 3 1/4l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.
Anahita (FR) 50-1 (9-0) 8th of 0, 6 1/2l behind Very Special (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jan.