Makani Bisty is an unknown outside of Japan but is a classy performer who will enjoy the conditions and was a close fourth in the Grade 1 Tenno Sho at Kyoto last May. Barbican deserves his chance having won six of his 10 races though at nowhere near this level while Unusual Suspect will enjoy stepping up in trip though he's been running poorly and was a long way behind Mikhail Glinka over 1m4f three weeks ago. The latter won the Queens Vase at Ascot in 2010 so the trip holds no fears while the veteran Kasbah Bliss, the winner of 16 races on the Flat and over hurdles, was never put in the race behind Fox Hunt on his return to action here and can do very much better than that. However, the winner's stablemate OPINION POLL, while never looking likely to win, ran a superb race on his return from a long break and with Frankie in the saddle this time is taken to reverse the form and make this a 1-2 for Godolphin.
Makani Bisty (JPN) (8-11) Held up, ridden to try and improve from 2f out, ran on final furlong, 4th of 16 Gold Blitz (8-11) at Hanshin(JPN) 1m 2f 4yo stk fbs.
Barbican Evensfav (9-2) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, went 2nd inside 3f out, led 2f out, stayed on strongly, won at Kempton 1m 4f Listed stks (1) pol in Nov beating Ceilidh House (9-1) by 5l, 6 ran.
Unusual Suspect (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Settled in rear, ridden halfway, soon beaten, 14th of 16, 21l behind Mikhail Glinka (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Averroes (IRE) 20-1 (9-2) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 12, 14l behind Fox Hunt (9-4) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Joshua Tree (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, prominent 3f out, not quicken from over 1f out, 6th of 16, 5l behind Mikhail Glinka (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Irish Flame (SAF) 28-1 (9-0) 8th of 14, 14l behind Capponi (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f Group 1 stks (4yo+) (1).
Bronze Cannon (USA) 12-1 (9-0) Never a factor, 13th of 16, 19l behind Mikhail Glinka (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Mikhail Glinka (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Led, ridden clear 3f out, ran on well, just held on, won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd beating Cavalryman (9-0) by 1l, 16 ran.
Grand Vent (IRE) 13-8fav (9-5) Never a factor, 7th of 12, 7l behind Simon De Montfort (8-10) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp gd.
Opinion Poll (IRE) 10-3 (9-5) Settled in rear, progress 6f out, tracked leader 2f out, not quicken, 2nd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Fox Hunt (9-4) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Zanzamar (SAF) 12-1 (9-0) Held up, ridden and one pace over 1f out, 5th of 16, 4 1/2l behind Mikhail Glinka (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 4f Grp 2 (1) gd.
Kasbah Bliss (FR) 10-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, never able to challenge, 9th of 12, 11l behind Fox Hunt (9-4) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gd.
Fox Hunt (IRE) 13-8fav (9-4) Always prominent, led 2f out, ran on well, won at Meydan(UAE) 1m 6f Grp 3 (1) gd beating Opinion Poll (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 12 ran.
