This has been shared between the UAE and USA almost exclusively since Cigar won the inaugural running in 1996 and the home team have a very powerful team this time. Last year's winner Thunder Snow had a long break before two narrow defeats in Grade 1's at Belmont and Churchill Downs in the autumn. He returned to action in the Group 1 Al Maktoum Challenge three weeks ago and was put in his place by Capezzano, who made all and was hardly out of a canter. Today's rivals Dolkong, New Trails and Gronkowski followed at a respectable distance and it's difficult to see any of that trio reversing the form with the winner though the runner-up will be revved up for this. North America has also been in brilliant form from the front and he and Capezzano will make this very difficult for the Godolphin star from stall 12. There is plenty of interest from the USA but YOSHIDA could prove their main hope. He was thought to be a Turf horse having won the Grade 1 Turf Classic at Churchill Downs in May but showed even better form in the Woodward Stakes at Saratoga on this surface in September where he had Gunnevera 2l behind and Seeking The Soul struggling in the rear so he's handed the vote to come from off what is likely to be a blistering pace.
Gunnevera (USA) 19-2 (8-12) Mild advance3w,flttnd, 6th of 12, 13l behind City Of Light (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f stks fst in Jan.
Capezzano (USA) 9-2 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar beating Thunder Snow (9-0) by 9 1/2l, 10 ran.
North America 1-3fav (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 2 fst in Feb beating New Trails (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 6 ran.
Audible (USA) 9-1 (8-12) 3-5wd turns,no menace, 5th of 12, 12 1/4l behind City Of Light (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f stks fst in Jan.
Seeking The Soul (USA) 33-1 (8-12) Bump st,good finish 2p, 2nd of 12, 5 3/4l behind City Of Light (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f stks fst in Jan.
Pavel (USA) 6-1 (8-10) 3wd into str,wkened, 4th of 5, 10 1/4l behind Battle Of Midway (8-10) at Santa Anita 1m 1f stks fst in Feb.
Gronkowski (USA) 14-1 (9-0) 5th of 10, 12 1/4l behind Capezzano (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Axelrod (USA) 15-2 (9-0) 10th of 11, 25 1/4l behind Muntazah (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 3 stks fst in Mar.
New Trails (USA) 8-1 (9-0) 4th of 10, 11l behind Capezzano (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Yoshida (JPN) 2-1fav (8-12) Off pace,5-6w,no thret, 6th of 10, 6 1/2l behind Bricks And Mortar (8-12) at Gulfstream 1m 1f stks fm in Jan.
Thunder Snow (IRE) 4-5fav (9-0) 2nd of 10, 9 1/2l behind Capezzano (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
Dolkong (USA) 10-1 (9-0) 3rd of 10, 9 3/4l behind Capezzano (9-0) at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 stks fst in Mar.
K T Brave (JPN) (9-0) 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Mitsuba (9-0) at Kawasaki 1m 2f fst in Jan.
