A candidate for Horse of the Year in North America having won all seven starts this year, MIDNIGHT BISOU will likely start a short-price for this. Steve Asmussen’s multiple Grade 1 winner landed the odds in a prep-race at Belmont with the minimum of fuss last time. Blue Prize beat previous Grade 1 winner Dunbar Road at Keeneland last month while Street Band found the latter too good before winning at the highest level at Parx with Serengeti Empress well beaten. Paradise Woods got the better of Secret Spice here last time with Ollie's Candy back in third but the inside post is not ideal for her and last year’s runner-up Wow Cat has plenty to find with the selection on recent form.
Paradise Woods (USA) 19-5 (8-11) Bid,led near 1/16,game, won at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Sep beating Secret Spice (8-13) by 1 3/4l, 6 ran.
Ollie's Candy (USA) 13-5 (8-13) 3wd into str,edged 2nd, 3rd of 6, 2l behind Paradise Woods (8-11) at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Sep.
Street Band (USA) 15-2 (8-10) Rallied widest,, won at Philadelphia Park 1m stks fst in Sep beating Guarana (8-12) by 2 1/4l, 11 ran.
Midnight Bisou (USA) 2-13fav (8-11) Bmp st,ins,3w&bmp upr, won at Belmont Park 1m 1f stks fst in Sep beating Wow Cat (8-11) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Dunbar Road (USA) 19-10 (8-9) Inside trip, hung late, 3rd of 5, 1 1/4l behind Blue Prize (8-12) at Keeneland 1m 1f stks fst in Oct.
Wow Cat (CHI) 14-5 (8-11) 3w,4w&hard bump 3/16, 2nd of 5, 3 1/4l behind Midnight Bisou (8-11) at Belmont Park 1m 1f stks fst in Sep.
Secret Spice (USA) 4-5fav (8-13) Fought back rail lane, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Paradise Woods (8-11) at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Sep.
La Force (GER) 11-1 (8-11) 3wd into str,no bid, 4th of 6, 5 1/4l behind Paradise Woods (8-11) at Santa Anita 1m stks fst in Sep.
Serengeti Empress (USA) 16-5 (8-12) Inside, tired, 6th of 11, 14 1/4l behind Street Band (8-10) at Philadelphia Park 1m stks fst in Sep.
Mo See Cal (USA) 16-10 (8-13) Angled in, drew off, won at Santa Anita 1m fst in Oct beating Zusha (8-11) by 5 1/4l, 5 ran.
Blue Prize (ARG) 15-2 (8-12) 6pth 1/4,4wd 1/8,edged, won at Keeneland 1m 1f stks fst in Oct beating Elate (8-12) by 1/2l, 5 ran.