SHIMRAAN can return to winning ways. The selection is still lightly-raced and was on a steep upward curve until finishing only fourth in a Group Two contest when favourite at Deauville in August. That was a messy race though and he can get back on track. Poet will love the soft ground and Distant Memories showed a wonderful attitude when winning at Windsor last time but it would be a surprise if either was good enough. German raider Budai is a bigger threat, Three Bodies is open to improvement and in good hands while Cima De Triomphe returns to Europe for the first time since finishing fourth behind Sea The Stars in the 2009 Eclipse.
Shimraan (FR) 13-8fav (8-9) 4th of 10 Marinous (9-2) at Deauville(FR) 1m 4f Grp 2 sft in Aug.
Poet 2-1fav (9-3) Soon tracking leader, led 3f out, soon ridden, edged right over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on under pressure, held towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Red Badge (8-7) at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gs in Sep.
Cirrus Des Aigles (FR) (9-2) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Listed stks gd in Sep beating Three Bodies (8-11) by nk, 8 ran.
Distant Memories (IRE) 6-1 (9-0) Made all, ridden over 1f out, hard driven and edged right inside final furlong, held on well, won at Windsor 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug beating Hot Prospect (8-6) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Three Bodies (IRE) (8-11) 2nd of 8, nk behind Cirrus Des Aigles (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Listed stks gd in Sep.
Budai (GER) (9-0) won at Baden-Baden(GER) 1m 2f Grp 3 in Aug, 12 ran.
Zazou (GER) 13-8 (8-9) 3rd of 5, shd behind Campanologist (9-6) at Cologne(GER) 1m 4f fll stks Grp 1 in Aug.
Cima De Triomphe (IRE) 7-2 (8-11) 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Voila Ici (8-11) at Milan(ITY) 1m 3f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Sep.
Shamalgan (FR) 25-1 (9-2) 5th of 7, 11l behind Behkabad (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Sep.
