Urban Icon is top-rated here having won the Listed Wulfruna Stakes at Wolverhampton for Richard Hannon before transferring to Saudi Arabia. His first run for new connections resulted in an excellent third behind the odds-on Space Blues on Turf at Riyadh last month. Avant Garde ran a tremendous race to be beaten less than a length by Fearless in the Grade 2 Gulfstream Park Mile a month ago and represents the USA along with Parsimony, who won a Listed handicap over 1m2f here last February, and the consistent Snapper Sinclair, runner-up in the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap at Aqueduct though beaten over 5 lengths. Frankie rides the Japan-based Dieu Du Vin, who has found racing at Group level just beyond him in his native country, while the home challenge is spearheaded by Midnight Sands and Chiefdom, 1-2 in a Group 3 here last time. The winner completed a five-timer here last winter though only had a short-head to spare over AMBASSADORIAL last January and the runner-up is 10lb better off so has an each-way shout at the odds. Ryan Moore gets the leg-up on Roman Rosso, who has returned to action in cracking form with a fine effort in a Group 1 here three weeks ago the highlight. He can go close in a very competitive opener in which stable companion Tuz is another with a chance.
Ambassadorial (USA) 9-1 (9-2) Close up in 4th, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 4, 2 1/4l behind Khuzaam (9-2) at Chelmsford City 7f stks (2) pol in Mar.
Avant Garde (USA) 9-2 (8-6) 4p,rally,grind,denied, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Fearless (8-6) at Gulfstream 1m stks fst in Feb.
Blown By Wind (9-0) 6th of 16, 5 1/4l behind Midnight Sands (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Chiefdom (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Midnight Sands (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Dieu Du Vin (JPN) 22-1 (8-9) 4th of 15, shd behind Auvergne (8-11) at Chukyo 1m 1f stks in Jan.
Dubai Mirage (IRE) (9-0) 7th of 11, 16 1/4l behind Salute The Soldier (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Golden Goal (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 16, 3 1/4l behind Midnight Sands (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Midnight Sands (USA) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar beating Chiefdom (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Parsimony (USA) 14-5 (8-10) Bid 4dp,3dp str,gamely, 2nd of 5, hd behind Loud Mouth (8-12) at Santa Anita 6f gd in Jan.
Rodaini (USA) (9-0) won at Jebel Ali 7f stks fst in Mar beating Alfareeq (9-0) by 3 1/4l, 15 ran.
Roman Rosso (ARG) (9-0) 3rd of 11, 4 3/4l behind Salute The Soldier (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Secret Ambition (9-0) 5th of 11, 7l behind Salute The Soldier (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Snapper Sinclair (USA) Evensfav (8-8) 3w bid, long drive, won at Oaklawn Park 1m fst in Feb beating Plainsman (8-8) by 1l, 7 ran.
Tuz (USA) (9-0) 3rd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Midnight Sands (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
Urban Icon 16-1 (9-0) 3rd of 11, 1l behind Space Blues (9-0) at Riyadh 6f gd in Feb.
