Last year's runner-up Mubtaahij was unfortunate to come up against the brilliant California Chrome that day and is likely to be just as unlucky this time around with ARROGATE in the line-up. Bob Baffert's grey was beaten on his debut but has since won all six starts, the last three at Grade 1 level including beating California Chrome in the Breeders' Cup Classic, and will be at very short odds to continue his sequence after his superb victory in the inaugural Pegasus Invitational at Gulfstream. The stable also run Hoppertunity, who finished third in the race a year ago and has continued to perform with credit at the highest level though he was a long way behind his stable companion in the Classic. Gun Runner is another high-class entry from the USA having won a Grade 1 handicap at Churchill Downs though he was 15l behind Arrogate in the Grade 1 Travers Stakes. Gold Dream won a Grade 1 at Tokyo last month and could snatch a prize under Joao Moreira.
Apollo Kentucky (USA) (8-13) won at Ohi 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Dec beating Awardee (8-13) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Long River (USA) 25-1 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar beating Special Fighter (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Gold Dream (JPN) (8-13) won at Tokyo 1m stks fst in Feb beating Best Warrior (9-0) by nk, 10 ran.
Lani (USA) 11-2 (9-0) 6th of 8, 16l behind Long River (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar.
Gun Runner (USA) 1-5fav (8-10) Cleared, cruised, won at Oaklawn Park 1m stks fst in Feb beating Hawaakom (8-3) by 5 3/4l, 6 ran.
Move Up 7-2 (9-0) 4th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Long River (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar.
Awardee (USA) (8-13) 2nd of 4, 1 1/2l behind Apollo Kentucky (8-13) at Ohi 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Dec.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) 6-1 (8-9) 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Long River (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar.
Arrogate (USA) 9-10fav (8-12) Rail, geared down late, won at Gulfstream 1m 1f Grp 1 stks fst in Jan beating Shaman Ghost (8-12) by 4 3/4l, 12 ran.
Keen Ice (USA) 16-1 (8-12) Outrun 6f, 4w, mildly, 4th of 12, 11l behind Arrogate (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f Grp 1 stks fst in Jan.
Neolithic (USA) 22-1 (8-12) Pressed, led, no match, 3rd of 12, 8 1/4l behind Arrogate (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f Grp 1 stks fst in Jan.
Hoppertunity (USA) 5-2 (8-13) 4wd into str,rallied, won at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Feb beating Mor Spirit (8-10) by 1l, 7 ran.
Special Fighter (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Long River (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar.
Mubtaahij (IRE) 2-1jfav (9-6) 2nd of 9, 2 1/2l behind Etijaah (8-5) at Meydan 1m 2f hcp lst (1) fst in Feb.
