Very Special won this last year before taking the Balanchine and her final start came when runner-up to Alice Springs in the Falmouth at Newmaket. She's obviously a high-class mare and will be ready for this but faces some stiff opposition. REALTRA, who won a Group 3 at Doncaster in 2015, didn't reappear until last month where she landed a Listed contest on Deauville's Polytrack so fitness will be no problem for Roger Varian's mare and she gets the nod. Opal Tiara also won a Group 3 at Goodwood in August then didn't get the best of runs in the Group 2 Challenge Stakes at Newmarket while Muffri'Ha progressed from handicaps to claim a Group 3 at Newmarket and a Listed contest on the all-weather at Lingfield. Silver Step battled to land a Group 3 in Italy though has more to do while Tahanee made a promising start for Mike De Kock here a fortnight ago where she would have finished closer but for being impeded.
Very Special (IRE) 16-1 (9-7) Soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to chase winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Alice Springs (8-12) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Opal Tiara (IRE) 16-1 (8-12) Raced stands side in rear, ridden over 2f out, kept on inside final furlong, not trouble leaders, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Aclaim (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Oct.
Realtra (IRE) (8-12) won at Deauville 7f lst stks pol in Dec beating Caointiorn (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Via Firenze (IRE) (8-11) 3rd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Realtra (8-12) at Deauville 7f lst stks pol in Dec.
Arabda 40-1 (9-1) 12th of 16, 10 1/2l behind Fanciful Angel (9-4) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Silver Step (FR) (8-9) won at San Siro 1m (1) gd in Sep beating Okana (8-9) by nk, 12 ran.
Muffri'Ha (IRE) 5-4fav (9-6) Led over 3f out, made rest, ridden and quickened clear over 1f out, comfortable, won at Lingfield 1m lst fll stks (1) pol in Oct beating Aljuljalah (8-12) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Anahita (FR) (8-8) 10th of 13, 9 3/4l behind Dormello (8-13) at Abu Dhabi 1m 3f Grp 3 stks gd in Mar.
Queen's Parade (USA) 25-1 (9-1) 13th of 16, 10 1/2l behind Fanciful Angel (9-4) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Jan.
Tahanee (ARG) 11-2 (9-6) 7th of 16, 4 3/4l behind Fanciful Angel (9-4) at Meydan 1m hcp gd in Jan.