LITTLE MIKE won the Turf Classic, the Arlington Million and the Breeders' Cup Turf last year. He had a run around here on Tapeta on Super Saturday and will take some beating. The New Zealand champion Ocean Park won four Group 1s in eight weeks last year, culminating in the Cox Plate at Moonee Valley. He warmed up with a facile success in another Group 1 three weeks ago. Falmouth Stakes winner Giofra produced an even better effort when runner-up in the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December but Igugu, a regular winner at Group 1 level in South Africa, has disappointed at the Carnival here and has twice finished behind Godolphin's Sajjhaa, who has progressed into a really smart mare. Wigmore Hall, a dual winner of the Northern Dancer at Woodbine, was behind Little Mike at Arlington. Dave Simcock's Beverley D winner I'm A Dreamer was a bit unlucky in-running on her two subsequent starts and along with stablemate Trade Storm, who landed the Zabeel Mile here, gives her yard a strong hand. French Fifteen, runner-up to Camelot in last year's 2000 Guineas, didn't run to that level in three subsequent starts.
Aesop's Fables (USA) 11-2 (9-0) 12th of 14, 16l behind African Story (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1).
I'm A Dreamer (IRE) 15-1 (8-12) Blocked 1/8,outkicked, 6th of 12, 2 3/4l behind Zagora (8-12) at Santa Anita(USA) 1m 2f flls Grp 1 (1) gd in Nov.
City Style (USA) 11-2 (9-0) 3rd of 10, 1 3/4l behind Sajjhaa (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Little Mike (USA) 9-2 (9-0) 8th of 12, 7l behind Hunter's Light (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1).
Sajjhaa 7-1 (8-9) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) gd beating The Apache (9-0) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Igugu (AUS) 11-4fav (8-9) 6th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Sajjhaa (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Ocean Park (NZ) (9-4) won at Ellerslie(NZ) 1m 2f Grp 1 gd, 0 ran.
Fulbright 3-1 (9-5) 3rd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Trade Storm (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Grp 2 fst.
Giofra 6-1 (8-10) 2nd of 11, 1l behind California Memory (9-0) at Sha Tin(HK) 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Dec.
The Apache (SAF) 4-1 (9-0) 2nd of 10, 3/4l behind Sajjhaa (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) gd.
Mushreq (AUS) 4-1 (9-0) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Feb beating Master Of Hounds (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 10 ran.
Wigmore Hall (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Determinedly between, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Joshua Tree (9-0) at Woodbine(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
French Fifteen (FR) (9-4) 2nd of 8, 2 1/2l behind Silas Marner (8-13) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 4yo stk fbs.
Trade Storm 5-2 (9-2) won at Meydan(UAE) 1m Grp 2 fst beating Musir (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.