A fascinating clash between a trio who are likely to be contesting Grade 1 races on World Cup night and beyond. BEAUTIFUL ROMANCE is a very progressive staying filly whose allowance may just be enough to see off her high-class challengers. The daughter of New Approach won the Middleton Stakes at York on her reappearance last season and ended her campaign in Australia, running a fine race in the Melbourne Cup before landing a Group 2, where she had the excellent Big Orange a close third. Sheikhzayedroad, who won this easily last year on his reappearance, was a close third behind Big Orange in the Goodwood Cup before ending his campaign completing a Group 2 double at Doncaster and Ascot so he's unlikely to go down without a battle. Vazirabad is another class act as he showed when beating Big Orange by a neck in the Dubai Gold Cup here in March, though he was receiving 4lb. He won the Group 1 Prix Royal-Oak at Saint-Cloud in October and is an obvious threat to all. Zamaam had Red Galileo around three lengths back in third when scoring over two miles three weeks ago and though the latter is 6lb better off neither look to have the quality for this.
Basateen (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) 7th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Prize Money (9-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Feb.
Red Galileo 2-1fav (9-1) 3rd of 9, 2 3/4l behind Zamaam (8-9) at Meydan 2m hcp gd in Feb.
Zamaam 9-1 (8-9) won at Meydan 2m hcp gd in Feb beating Los Barbados (8-8) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Vazirabad (FR) (9-4) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct beating Endless Time (9-1) by 1 3/4l, 15 ran.
Sheikhzayedroad 11-1 (9-7) Tracked leading pair, ridden and edged right inside final 2f, challenged over 1f out, upsides inside final furlong, stayed on gamely to lead final 100 yards, won at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gd in Oct beating Quest For More (9-7) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Beautiful Romance (9-0) won at Sandown 1m 4f (1) gd in Nov beating Almoonqith (9-4) by shd, 8 ran.
Carbon Dating (IRE) 18-1 (8-8) 5th of 14, 1 1/2l behind Prize Money (9-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Feb.
Los Barbados (IRE) 16-1 (8-6) 6th of 14, 2 1/2l behind Prize Money (9-6) at Meydan 1m 4f hcp fst in Feb.
Rio Tigre (IRE) 10-1 (8-13) 5th of 9, 12 1/2l behind Zamaam (8-9) at Meydan 2m hcp gd in Feb.
