The whole race hinges on WORKFORCE's participation; if he runs he wins. Like the rest of the season, connections are playing cat and mouse with the media and the betting public with regards to his chances of lining up. In reverse order, he was gutsy when winning the Arc, immature when losing the King George, and electric when winning the Derby. He looks terrific in his coat and is the class act in the race. Behkabad was unlucky behind him at Longchamp and his siblings suggest this quicker ground should be okay, however he doesn't seem to possess the same turn of foot as Sir Michael Stoute's colt. Blinkers are an interesting addition on the Brian Meehan-trained Dangerous Midge. He shouldn't be ruled out as a progressive horse and his trainer won this in 2006 with Red Rocks at the track. The home challenge is led by Winchester and the mount of Cornelio Velasquez is another with the shades on for the first time. The five-year-old won the Turf Classic Invitational Stakes at Belmont last time, beating Paddy O'Prado, and his form has taken a step up this year. Debussy followed up his Arlington Million win with a fair third to Twice Over in the Champion Stakes but that form is likely to bring him up short here if merely repeating it. Al Khali was unlucky in the Canadian International and he looks the over-priced runner in the line-up.
Champ Pegasus (USA) 17-10fav (8-12) 3wd into str,led late, won at Hollywood Park(USA) 1m 2f grd stk in Oct beating Where's The Remote (8-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Winchester (USA) 7-2 (9-0) 4w 1/4,clear 1/16,held, won at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct beating Paddy O'prado (8-9) by 1l, 11 ran.
Telling (USA) 17-2 (9-0) Saved ground,no kick, 5th of 11, 5l behind Winchester (9-0) at Belmont Park(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Debussy (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Led, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2 1/2l behind Twice Over (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Al Khali (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Bmpd,angle out,rallied, 4th of 9, 3/4l behind Joshua Tree (8-10) at Woodbine(USA) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Oct.
Behkabad (FR) 7-2fav (8-11) Tracked leaders, short of room 2f out, stayed on when clear, 4th of 19, 4 1/2l behind Workforce (8-11) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct.
Dangerous Midge (USA) 9-2 (9-3) Prominent, challennged over 2f out, pushed into lead over 1f out, ran on well, comfortably, won at Newbury 1m 3f Grp 3 (1) gd in Sep beating Rainbow Peak (9-3) by 4l, 7 ran.
Workforce 6-1 (8-11) Mid-division, progress 3f out, challenged for lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) sft in Oct beating Nakayama Festa (9-4) by hd, 19 ran.
