A blanket could have been thrown across the first five home when Gold Star beat Walton Street three weeks ago with EYNHALLOW (NAP) fourth and Huge Future fifth. All are owned by Godolphin and the result could be very different this time as the early pace was slow resulting in a mad dash for the line. The selection hardly saw daylight until much too late and, as he was having his first start for Charlie Appleby after transferring from Roger Charlton, there should be plenty more to come. His stable companion Wolf Country won a Listed contest at Saint-Cloud in May but hasn't run since August while it's two years since Basateen won and he's still higher in the weights.
Basateen (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) 5th of 14, 7l behind Leshlaa (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Gold Star 9-4 (9-2) won at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb beating Walton Street (8-10) by shd, 11 ran.
Zamaam 33-1 (9-5) 6th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Prince Of Arran (9-3) at Meydan 2m hcp gd in Feb.
Brass Ring (8-11) 6th of 7, 8 1/4l behind Red Galileo (8-11) at Meydan 1m 6f hcp gd in Jan.
Newlands (AUS) 66-1 (8-9) 13th of 14, 20 3/4l behind Leshlaa (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb.
Huge Future 16-1 (9-0) 5th of 11, 1/2l behind Gold Star (9-2) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Linguistic (IRE) 16-1 (8-13) 6th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Gold Star (9-2) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Wolf Country 10-1 (9-5) Led and set good pace, pushed clear over 3f out, headed over 2f out, chased winner until just over 2f out, weakened quickly inside final 2f, 11th of 14, 27l behind Londinium (8-0) at Goodwood 1m 4f hcp (2) sft in Aug.
Walton Street 15-8fav (8-10) 2nd of 11, shd behind Gold Star (9-2) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
Empoli (GER) 14-1 (8-6) 5th of 8, 7 1/2l behind Los Barbados (9-0) at Meydan 1m 6f hcp gd in Jan.
Pilote (IRE) 11-1 (9-2) 11th of 15, 9 1/4l behind Good Trip (8-10) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp gd in Feb.
Eynhallow 10-3 (8-7) 4th of 11, 1/2l behind Gold Star (9-2) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp gd in Feb.
