Man On The Spot with his best bets for this afternoon's card at Meydan.
3.05 ZAMAN was rated 19lb higher than Wasim when beaten half-a-length off levels in a classic trial here three weeks ago. The winner was race-fit having shown up well in his previous runs on Dirt but clearly loved reverting to Turf and was always travelling nicely off a very fast pace. The selection, returning from a long break, came from the proverbial mile back and would probably have won in a few more strides so has to be the selection though a close inspection of the race shows Circle Dream finishing with a real flourish and that was only his fourth start and his first on Turf. Third-placed Centenary Diamond also finished strongly and he was racing for only the second time but fifth-placed Arroway appeared to have every chance as did Irish raider Freescape, though the latter will have come on a bundle for the run. Wolverhampton winner Thunderbolt Rocks would be interesting if getting a run from his reserve spot.
3.40 WINTER LIGHTNING just held off a renewed challenge from Rayya, who attempted to make all, in the 1000 Guineas Trial over 7f in January then beat that rival comfortably in the classic over a mile three weeks ago. It's difficult to see a form reversal as the winner, a half-sister to UAE Derby winner Thunder Snow, is bred for this trip and all of the remainder were behind with only Expressiy getting anywhere near the principals. The latter should be suited by the longer trip as she's out of a middle-distance mare and it will be a surprise if she's not in the money without troubling the selection.
4.15 Godolphin and Richard Hannon appear to hold all the aces. The local owners have four entries with Top Score looking certain to get into contention after just failing to catch Hannon's Oh This Is Us over the track and trip a couple of weeks ago, though the winner ran really well and looks a big threat. Van Der Decken, who started favourite on the back of a fine reappearance over 6f, also stayed on nicely and will be difficult to keep out of the frame while fourth-placed Above N Beyond attempted to make all and stayed on well when headed. The latter was having his first start for a very long time so it would be no surprise to see him involved in the finish. Khafoo Shememi also represents Hannon and he looked the likely winner over a mile last time until fading close home so dropping back in trip should suit. STEADY PACE (NAP) has a very poor record for such a talented performer. Placed efforts in the Bunbury Cup and a Listed contest at Newmarket are stand-out pieces of form and he very nearly doubled his winning tally on Turf when just failing to catch Jordan Sport, who was receiving 10lb, over 6f last month. Pat Cosgrave was on board when he won at Chelmsford in September and can steer him to another victory.
4.50 This produced a high-class field last year with Godolphin's Beautiful Romance holding the top-class VAZIRABAD with Sheikhzayedroad a couple of lengths behind. The runner-up, who has won the last two Dubai Gold Cups and has that as his target again, used this as a prep run a year ago and once again hasn't run since October. The third has also been absent since beaten 15 lengths by Order Of St George at Ascot the same month and has a bit to find with the selection. Rare Rhythm represents last year's winning owners and looked a real staying prospect when following his Royal Ascot victory with a Listed success at York and he'll be trained to the minute in a bid to gain his first success at Group level. Prince Of Arran has been in excellent form and has fitness on his side as does Red Galileo, who was only beaten a neck when third to him over 2m a fortnight ago.
5.25 DON'T GIVE UP has gone up 7lb for making most and comfortably holding off Saltarin Dubai and Alabaster over the track and trip a fortnight ago and is progressing so fast he'll take the world of beating in his hat-trick bid. The third was travelling nicely for most of the way and had to come around the outside so may get closer without troubling the winner while fourth-placed Jupiter Light ran well for a long way on his first start since winning at Nottingham in October. Etijaah, who looks best of Doug Watson's trio, easily landed a Listed race here in December and can't have been right when beaten a long way the following month.
6.00 Mike De Kock's yard has finally got going and those who witnessed BAROOT storming to victory over slightly shorter a fortnight ago won't want to miss him here despite a 5lb rise. The stable have two other entries and Sanshaawes, who has a superb record on the track, could be ready to spring a surprise under veteran South Africa-based Bernard Fayd'Herbe, who was on board when his mount was beaten just a length behind Decorated Knight in last year's Group 1 Jebel Hatta. Mountain Hunter looks the main threat as he couldn't quite hold off another Godolphin entry in Blair House last time but that was no disgrace and he'd earlier beaten Banksea by three lengths, though the latter is 7lb better off. Karl Burke's Born To Be Alive hasn't struck form yet and looks a few pounds high.