THE QE II CUP OF 2005

GRAND ARMEE: One of the best horses in Australia. He comes off a fluent two and a half length win in the ten furlong Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Previously he was thrashed by Makbye Diva when coming off a hatrick of wins-two at Group One level. The gelded son of Hennessy has won 13 of his 30 starts to date, including seven group one's.

BULLISH LUCK: Winner of the Steward's Cup earlier this year over a mile. He won last year's Hong Kong Gold Cup-over the same course and distance. A flying second in last November's International Cup to the top class filly, Alexander Goldrun. Bids to give Tony Cruz yet another big race win. A son of Royal Academy, the gelding is from Triptych's family. Currently third favourite behind the two Aussies.

ELVSTROEM: Impressed all and sundry with a great win last time out in the Dubai Duty Free Stakes when making most of the running. The big son of Danehill was previously a well beaten fourth to the mighty Makybe Diva in the Sydney Cup, beaten over four lengths. On a line through the dual Melbourne Cup winner there is little to choose between Elvstroem and Grand Armee. He is a five time Group One winner.

EPALO: Last year's Singapore Cup winner impressed in his last start. The son of Lando won a Group Three by five lengths over useful Nearest Honor. Previously he ran second in the Man O'War to the top class Magistretti. He has won eight of his 20 starts to date. His dam, a daughter of Kris, is out of a half sister to legendary stayer, Ardross.
Andreas Schutz won this race with globetrotting Silvano in 2001.

TOUCH OF LAND: Another high class German representative, he is another by Lando-who moved to France following the good year he enjoyed last year.
He has not run since finishing third to Alexander Goldrun and Bullish Luck in the Hong Kong Cup, beaten under a length. He had captured the Prix Dollar on Arc weekend previously for owner Gary Tanaka. His dam is a three parts sister to Turfkonig.

PHOENIX REACH: Won the Dubai Sheema Classic at his last start , beating Greys Inn by over two lengths. The latter did race wide and things should be closer between the two this time. He is a testament to trainer Andrew Balding, as he has overcome several severe injuries to become one of the best turf horses in the world. Prior to that he caused an upset when winning the Hong Kong Vase last year when touching off Sights on Gold. A son of Alhaarth, he is out of a half sister to Carroll House, from the Pretty Polly family.

GREYS INN: A warm favourite to win the Sheema Classic, he ran well after racing wide to finish fourth to Phoenix Reach. The handsome son of Zabeel was impressive in his two previous starts in Dubai when fourth on his Dubai debut to Yard-Arm and thrashing the ill fated Tycoon to win the City of Gold. Champion three year old last year, he won three Group One's in South Africa including the July.

VENGEANCE OF RAIN: The impressive Derby winner when winning by nearly three lengths of NZ Group One winner, Russian Pearl. Sambuca was three parts of a length further away in third. He was a listed winner at two in Australia and also ran fifth in the group one VRC Sires Produce Stakes.
He had won two in a row prior to the Derby for David Ferraris.
Another by New Zealand's sire legend, Zabeel, his dam won the Blue Diamond and his own sister, Dizelle, won this year's AJC Oaks.

PERFECT PARTNER: This year's Gold Cup hero. He beat Floral Dynamite and fellow Cup contender, Elegant Fashion. He was sixth at his last start, beaten by Bullish Luck, Ain't Here and Elegant Fashion. He needs to improve for Tony Cruz.

SUPER KID: Last year's Steward Cup winner. Was beaten over four lengths by Phoenix Reach in the Vase. Has been well beaten in his last three starts. He won his last start, a mile handicap, by three parts of a length from the useful The Duke. He gave the latter a pound.

AIN'T HERE: Unplaced in the Gold Cup behind Perfect Partner. Was well beaten by Bullish Luck and Touch of Land when unplaced in the Hong Kong Cup. Second at his last start to Bullish Luck, beaten just under two lengths. A son of Dehere, he is from Giant's Causeway's family.

RUSSIAN PEARL: A top class three year old in New Zealand, where he won the Bayer Classic, he was second in the Derby to Vengeance of Rain. He then won an 1800 meter handicap, beating the second by a length, giving him two pounds. Yet another for Tony Cruz. He has won two of his four starts in Hong Kong.

SAMBUCA: Bids to emulate his sire, London News, who won the race in 1997. He has won twice in Hong Kong to date for Tony Millard.
He was touched off in the Classic Mile by Scintillation before running third in the Derby. As Port of London, he won the Golden Horseshoe, beating the high class Fallon, National Icon and subsequent Guineas winner Heir Apparent. He scraped into this race due to Alexander Goldrun and Pellegrino's withdrawals.

ELEGANT FASHION: Top class mare, former Derby winner. Elegant Fashion was second in this race last year.
She has not been at her best of late and has been beaten in her last nine starts. She has been a doubtful starter for most of the last week.

SELECTION
1 Phoenix Reach
2 Greys Inn
3 Elvstroem