Despite the absence of Aiden O’Brien’s three year old stars, High Chaparral and Hawk Wing, Saturday’s running of the prestigious race looks as good a running as ever. 

Godolphin have been dominant in this race, winning it four times in the last seven years and the boys in blue look to have the ruling favourite for this race. 

Sakhee is thought to be their number one hope if the ground is on the soft side of good, while if the ground is firm, Grandera will take his place.

Despite a disappointing run in the Dubai World Cup, Sakhee is thought by Godolphin to be the superior but is unlikely to run at the moment. 

Grandera’s last win, in the Prince of Wales Stakes, was very impressive as he thrashed a good field. The race was a step up on anything the Grand Lodge colt had shown previously and he looks to be improving. He was beaten by seven lengths by Sakhee in the Juddmonte International last year, but has improved dramatically since.

However should Sakhee run, Grandera will be running for second. 

Amongst those beaten by Grandera was the high class Nayef. The half brother to recently deceased Nashwan, was said to dislike the firm going which may count against him here. Winner of the Dubai Sheema Classic, he has been beaten on his two subsequent starts. Should he get the right conditions, the son of Gulch would be a big danger, but he needs to improve on his current form. 

Storming Home was all the talk following his easy win in the King Edward VII Stakes last year over the top class Milan. The Machiavellian colt, however, has not won since. The four year old runs well at Ascot, and ran well behind Galileo and Fantastic Light in this race last year. But he has been beaten by both Zindabad and Boreal recently and may battle to overturn that form. Michael Hills will be looking to win this race for the second time, following Pentire (1996). 

Boreal was an impressive winner of the Coronation Cup and this German trained colt could give the German breeding industry another reason to cheer. He will be ridden by French ace, Olivier Peslier, replacing Kieran Fallon. Borgia’s half brother looks likely to be Godolphin’s biggest threat. 

Aquarelliste was a beaten favourite in the Grand Prix de Saint Cloud on her last start but should the Danehill filly run to her best form, she should give the colts a run for their money. Winner of the French Oaks and Prix Vermeille last year, she started her season with a bang, when winning the Prix Ganay. It may have been a weak race, but Aquarelliste is very talented and should she run, will be right there. 

Golan has been something of an enigmatic horse since his brilliant 2000 Guineas win last year and on his Arc performance has a lot to find on Sakhee (if he runs) and Aquarelliste. The son of Spectrum has not run since the Arc last year and it is hard to see him winning this race on his seasonal debut. Despite this, it is unwise to overlook his trainer, Sir Michael Stoute, and jockey, Kieran Fallon, who climbed off Boreal to ride Golan.

It is unsure, after owner Lord Weinstock’s death, whether Golan will run. 

Mark Johnston has been having an outstanding year and looks to keep up his success with his game and consistent, Zindabad. The son of Shirley Heights has been in superb form this year, with a win in the Hardwicke Stakes confirming the improvement he has made this year. His loss in the Coronation Cup was attributed to the soft ground, which is unlikely to trouble him here. 

Another old campaigner in this race is Millenary. The son of Rainbow Quest won the Princess of Wales Stakes on his last start, albeit over a weaker field than the one he meets here. A former St Leger winner, in 2000, Millenary will need to improve to win, but should be in the money. 

SELECTION:

1. Grandera

2. Zindabad

3. Boreal