CALIFORNIA CHROME, surprisingly beaten by Prince Bishop in this last year, has been trained with one objective, to go one better. Art Sherman's charge, a regular Grade 1 winner in the USA, didn't have much to do when easily landing a handicap that had been framed for him here last month but at least showed his wellbeing and his trainer reckons he's a better horse this season. Hokko Tarumae led for a long way last year and arrives in excellent form and could get closer. Frosted was beaten into third by Keen Ice at Saratoga in August but has made great strides subsequently and was a very smooth winner of a Group 2 in record time on his first appearance here last month. He can take his revenge on the winner, who hasn't kicked on since landing that race when the great American Pharoah was runner-up. Mubtaahij completed a Classic double here a year ago then ran in two legs of the US Triple Crown. He's looked below par in his two runs this winter but don't be surprised by a return to something like his best. Mshawish finished third in the Dubai Turf a year ago and has been in excellent form landing a Grade 1 handicap at Gulfstream on this surface last month, the same race he won a year ago before arriving here.
Keen Ice (USA) (9-0) 7th of 12, 11 3/4l behind Special Fighter (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Mar.
Mshawish (USA) 9-2 (8-5) Angled out1/4,bid1/8, won at Gulfstream 1m 1f hcp fst in Feb beating Valid (8-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
Gun Pit (AUS) (9-0) 2nd of 12, 4 1/2l behind Special Fighter (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Mar.
Mubtaahij (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 12, 7 1/2l behind Special Fighter (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Mar.
Special Fighter (IRE) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) fst in Mar beating Gun Pit (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 12 ran.
Candy Boy (USA) 25-1 (9-0) 4th of 9, 9 1/4l behind Prince Bishop (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f fst in Mar.
Vadamos (FR) (9-4) 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Solow (9-6) at Chantilly 1m stks pol in Mar.
Hokko Tarumae (JPN) (8-13) won at Kawasaki 1m 2f lst stks Sloppy in Jan
Frosted (USA) 10-11fav (9-0) Tracked leader, smooth progress 500m out, led 300m out, easily, won at Meydan 1m 1f (1) fst in Feb beating Gold City (9-1) by 5l, 9 ran.
Hoppertunity (USA) 19-10fav (8-7) 4wd into str,up btwn, won at Santa Anita 1m 1f stks fst in Feb beating Imperative (8-7) by shd, 8 ran.
California Chrome (USA) (9-6) Tracked leading pair, smooth progress 600m out, led 300m out, ran on well, easily, won at Meydan 1m 2f hcp fst in Feb beating Storm Belt (8-5) by 2l, 8 ran.
Teletext (USA) (9-0) won at King Abdul Aziz Racecourse 1m 4f fst in Feb beating Red Velour (8-13) by 5 1/2l, 18 ran.
