3 minute read

This is the 5th Edition and will be under lights for the first time

Last year it gained G2 status and the prize money went to US$1 million and it is attracting bigger and better horses every year.

This year sees the return of the 2023 winner Spirit Dancer – who can forget the jubilation expressed by his owner Sir Alex Ferguson, but there is some stiff competition this year.

Lead Artist, a 3yo, will represent the Gosdens with Kieren Shoemark riding and is currently on 11/4 in the UK markets with Godolphin's Nation's Pride on the same mark for Appleby-Buick

There are 9 raiders in the 12 horse field and that includes two from Japan – Yamanin Sympa and Killer Instinct. Both are by Deep Impact.  While their form records at home doesn't look like they would start odds-on, never ignore the Japanese runners and Killer Instinct, who has the advantage of previous travels, was second to Spirit Dance and beat Calif in Riyadh last year.  Calif went on to win a G1 in Germany so we rest our case.

We quite like the French runner Andromede who hasn't been out of the frame for the last two years and was second in the Wildenstein on Arc Day – she's a 5yo mare by Sea The Stars and will have Soumillon on board for Graffard and could be value at 11/1.

Ryan Moore is doing a quick trip from his current base in Japan to ride Point Lonsdale for Aidan O'Brien and of course the horse is by Australia so we have to put something on it.

It's going to be an interesting race!