LE BERNARDIN won the first round of this last month when beating Long River a couple of lengths with Lindo Amor, Gold City and Fitzgerald all finishing further behind. Long River and Lindo Amor should finish closer this time given they were both returning from a lay-off on that occasion but the form can be confirmed. Storm Belt won a Listed race here last month but new stablemate Second Summer has won in Grade 2 company at Santa Anita and is partnered by Pat Dobbs today. Runner-up in last year’s Lancashire Oaks for John Gosden, the much-travelled Furia Cruzada has now joined Erwan Charpy and could go well having won on dirt in South America in the past.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) (8-13) 3rd of 9, 1 1/4l behind Loving Things (8-13) at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 3 gd in Oct.
Fitzgerald (USA) (9-0) 9th of 10, 23 1/4l behind Le Bernardin (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Second Summer (USA) 11-2 (8-8) 3wd into lane,wkened, 7th of 8, 7 1/4l behind Melatonin (8-12) at Santa Anita 1m 2f fst in Jun.
Gold City (IRE) (9-0) 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Le Bernardin (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Long River (USA) (9-0) 2nd of 10, 2l behind Le Bernardin (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Power Blade (QA) 13-2 (9-2) 3rd of 15, 8l behind North America (9-2) at Meydan 1m hcp fst in Jan.
Lindo Amor (ARG) (9-0) 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Le Bernardin (9-0) at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan.
Storm Belt (USA) (9-3) 7th of 9, 12 1/4l behind Mizbah (8-5) at Meydan 1m 1f hcp fst in Jan.
Le Bernardin (USA) (9-0) won at Meydan 1m Grp 2 fst in Jan beating Long River (9-0) by 2l, 10 ran.