1

Montiridge

A very smart horse when trained in the UK earlier in his career, winning up to a G3 level. Tough and consistent also though his classy form was at 1400m and 1600m and he failed when brought down to this sprinting distance a couple of times in 2014. He has since moved to Saudi Arabia, winning a small race there over 1400m on the dirt in January. He probably won't be fast enough.

2

Speed Hawk

His three wins in the UK all came in minor events, but he does seem to have gradually improved since coming to Meydan and most recently he finished a close third to rival Shaishee in a G3 this month. However he hasn't shown so far that he is capable of a powerful finish and this high-class assignment will probably be beyond him.

3

Krypton Factor

A very familiar speedster at Meydan, and he won this race back in 2012, was third in 2013 but wasn't on his game last year when only tenth behind Hong Kong's Sterling City. He did appear to take well to the new surface when only touched off in a G3 on his 2015 Meydan reappearance in February but failed to quicken in another G3 here this month, toiling a well-beaten fifth.

4

Rich Tapestry

Although he comes off a lengthy break, his career record suggests that is not likely to hinder him, having for example stylishly won the G3 trial for this race last year off a three month break. Runner-up to Sterling City in this race last year, this lovely sprinter went on make history by becoming the first Hong Kong-trained winner in the USA when outspeeding some top American sprinters - including today's rival Secret Circle - in a G1 on the dirt at Santa Anita last October.

5

Salutos Amigos

Has been on a hot winning streak in the USA notably at Aqueduct in New York. His two wins this year, both G3's on the dirt at this distance, look his strongest career performances yet where he has dominated decent-looking rivals as the betting suggested he would. Can he produce the same level across the world at Meydan?

6

Big Macher

Has had plenty of success on the dirt at around this distance on the West Coast of the USA, perhaps his best performance coming when he ran down a previous Breeders' Cup winner in a G1 over 1200m last July. On ratings he has a definite chance - it all depends how he has travelled and handles Meydan.

7

Secret Circle

Remains one of the big names in sprinting in the USA, his finest moments coming back in 2013 when he won the G1 Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, sitting chilly off a furious gallop that day, before pouncing.  Only just beaten in that same prestigious race in 2014 and though he hasn't won since he has been showing plenty of his old dash.

8

Lucky Nine

Has only competed once at Meydan during his distinguished career and that was back in 2012 where he ran a good third to Krypton Factor who he will meet again on this new surface. Clearly travelling doesn't bother him as he has cruised to victory in the same G1 at Kranji in Singapore in both 2013 and 2014 and his cracking third when just behind Gold-Fun in that thrilling finish to the Chairman's Sprint Prize in February suggests that he is still a major force to be reckoned with.

9

United Color

He is twice a winner over this distance at Meydan, though on the previous all-weather surface. Mixed fortunes from his efforts on the track this season, and though a close second to today's rival Shaishee in a G3 here earlier in the month, he was outpaced for most of that race and really just seemed to be passing tired rivals at the end.

10

Shaishee

Has mostly been running over further than this, even competing over 2000m at Meydan earlier in his career. But the drop back down to this distance on the dirt payed major dividends last time when he closed down the leaders to win a G3 here this month. With all the international competition, this does look much more difficult however.

11

El Padrino

This Singapore-based six-year-old did win a 1400m handicap for a different stable on the former all-weather surface during a brief spell at Meydan back in 2012. He doesn't always produced the same performance each time but does arrive here in winning form having landed a local G3 over this distance on the polytrack at Kranji earlier this month.

12

Super Jockey

Comes here off a battling victory over Tour de Force and hot favourite Master Kochanwong in a 1200m handicap on the Sha Tin dirt surface early this month. He was a 10-1 chance there and it wouldn't have been the first time that he had performed above the expectations of the betting market. He should appreciate this surface and the excellent Ryan Moore has been booked to ride, though purely on ratings his winning chance is not obvious.

13

Cool Cowboy

An interesting contender whose record when trained in the USA was four wins from four starts over 1200m on the dirt. His Meydan debut earlier this month was also highly encouraging, doing best of those who raced with the speed in that G3 over this distance. Late last year he had caught pneumonia when in quarantine and missed a month's training, so one can expect that there could be plenty of improvement to come.

14

Muarrab

Nothing outstanding when trained in the UK but he has done really well in the UAE and has proven to be unstoppable over 1000m and 1200m on the dirt surface at Jebel Ali. His brief encounters at Meydan have also been good and he finished runner-up in a hot Listed race here in January, and it may be significant that retained jockey Paul Hanagan prefers him to recent Meydan winner Shaishee.