Godolphin

15 ran 2m31.84  
Owner: Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum

A typically competitive renewal, which, combined with a steady pace, resulted in the tightest finish of the night; trainer Mubarak bin Shafya and jockey Ahmed Ajtebi completed a very valuable double in the card's turf races, the latter doing so in contrasting fashion to the Duty Free, coming from well off a steady pace to deny the more handily-ridden placed horses; while a number of the field have become regulars in this sort of contest, the first 2 (both one-time 2007 Derby hopes incidentally) are very much newcomers to top-flight 12f contests. EASTERN ANTHEM (IRE), another winner on the card to have been thriving in handicap company earlier at the Carnival, had already demonstrated his ability to quicken off a steady pace last time and did so again here under his rider who completed a double in the two big turf races in markedly contrasting fashion; not best away from his low draw and rather crowded out as the field converged on the rail for the early turn, he was soon in rear but made good progress wide on the home turn before running on strongly to emerge best in a 3-way finish; reported to have had a wind operation since his final start last year, he should prove more of a force in pattern company in Europe this season back with Godolphin (sixth in Geoffrey Freer only previous try). SPANISH MOON (USA), lightly raced prior to last season, ran an excellent race on his reappearance to go down narrowly, helped by being ridden close to the steady pace, sent for home over 2f out and touched off only on the post; he won 3 listed races last year (one on polytrack) when coming up short in pattern company (not always looked straightforward), but on this evidence is well up to winning something bigger. PURPLE MOON (IRE) lost out by a matter of inches on yet another huge prize (suffered similar fate in 2007 Melbourne Cup and 2008 Hong Kong Vase) but improved upon his reappearance in the City of Gold last month despite less advantageous terms with some and took his form to a new high; however, he's vulnerable to rivals with a bit more speed at this trip, particularly when there's not much pace on, and while sensibly ridden handily, was tapped for foot when the runner-up quickened on and couldn't contain the winner's late finish either despite rallying to have every chance; his best chance of winning one of these big 12f prizes is off an end-to-end gallop, and he might be best served by having a pacemaker. YOUMZAIN (IRE), reappearing in this for the third year running (fifth and then third previously), was thereabouts again although strictly some way below the pick of his form, caught in the early scrimmaging and still in rear turning for home before finishing well once in the clear without reaching the first 3; he won the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last summer and was placed in both the King George and Arc for the second year running. QUIJANO (GER), another appearing in this for the third time, failed to confirm the promise of his return in the City of Gold (giving weight to Purple Moon among others), just able to stay on without threatening. DOCTOR DINO (FR), normally so reliable (third last year), lacked his usual finishing kick having raced wide throughout and moved into a challenging position at the top of the straight; he ended last year by touching off Purple Moon in the Hong Kong Vase, and while unlikely to be getting any better these days, his overall record suggests he'll be back to something like his best before long. KIRKLEES (IRE) seemed not to stay on his first attempt at 12f, prominent despite his wide draw but struggling to hold his pitch after the home turn. RUSSIAN SAGE (SAF) was another to shape as though the step up in trip wasn't in his favour, though was reported to have bled. KING OF ROME (IRE) was one of several from his stable to perform disappointingly on the night having run a sound trial beforehand, though lacked room when trying to make some headway on the rail in the straight. MACARTHUR, dropped out from his wide draw, made only a short-lived effort on the home turn.