SHAHRASAL has some decent form in South Africa and enters the fray here with such a lowly weight that she's given the nod to make a successful debut. Doug Watson has a strong hand with a quartet of entries with the in-form Maqaraat, a winner at Jebel Ali in November under Dane O'Neill, likely to prove best of them. Genius Boy completed a four-timer for James Tate in the summer and made a very promising start for new connections here a fortnight ago where he led until caught in the closing stages by Almoonquith. He should be better for the run and looks a big threat. He holds Now Spun on that form while Stormardal made a pleasing debut on the track in a better race than this a couple of weeks ago and it will be a surprise if he isn't in the action. Double Dealer, who made a promising start here on New Year's Day following his transfer from Godolphin, is surely better than he showed two weeks ago.
Yarroom (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 12, 16l behind Ukrainian (9-1) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 1m 4f hcp gd.
Genius Boy 5-1 (8-13) 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind Almoonqith (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap gd.
Shebebi (USA) 10-1 (9-2) 6th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Almoonqith (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap gd.
Warbird (8-13) 7th of 9, 11l behind True Story (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f Listed stks (1) gf.
Now Spun (USA) 12-1 (9-0) 4th of 12, 4l behind Almoonqith (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap gd.
Asatir (USA) 16-1 (9-5) 6th of 9, 12l behind Layl (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp.
Journeyman (SAF) 7-1 (9-0) 13th of 15, 18l behind Kanaf (8-9) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp gd.
Stormardal (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) 4th of 9, 6l behind Layl (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcp.
Resolute Response (IRE) 7-1 (10-0) Towards rear, raced on outer straight, no impression from over 1f out, 14th of 15, 13l behind Beacon Lodge (9-8) at Tipperary 7f hcp 60-100 in Oct '13.
Flag Officer 6-1 (9-1) 13th of 14, 9l behind Jawhar (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 2f hcp gd in Feb '13.
Double Dealer 4-1 (9-1) 10th of 11, 21l behind Not A Given (9-5) at Meydan(UAE) 7f hcp.
Maqaraat (IRE) 13-8fav (9-11) won at Jebel Ali(UAE) 1m 2f hcp in Nov beating Double Bass (8-10) by 1 1/4l, 9 ran.
Mujrayaat (IRE) 11-1 (8-8) 10th of 12, 6l behind Almoonqith (9-2) at Meydan(UAE) 1m hcap gd.
Special Fighter (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Led, headed 2f out, ridden over 1f out, soon weakened, last of 4, 7l behind Saoi (9-8) at Ffos Las 1m 4f hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Sep.
Ostaad (IRE) (9-0) 3rd of 7, 2l behind Art Wave (8-11) at Jebel Ali(UAE) 7f hcp.
Shahrasal (AUS) 13-1 (8-11) No strong kick, 5th of 13, 4 1/2l behind Beloved Country (9-2) at Clairwood(SAF) 7f 2yo fll Listed stks gd in Jun.
Dr Faustus (IRE) (8-4) 9th of 12, 48l behind Ukrainian (9-1) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 1m 4f hcp gd.
Concordat (8-4) 10th of 12, well behind Ukrainian (9-1) at Abu Dhabi(UAE) 1m 4f hcp gd.