AWAIT THE DAWN
Await The Dawn is another classy performer from Aidan O'Brien's team. This five-year-old has raced only eight times in his career, winning five times, and he is open to further improvement. That's a bit scary to his rivals, as Await The Dawn already has some solid results on his CV.
He had an unusually strong seasonal debut last year, when cantering home by 4½ lengths from Distant Memories in the Huxley Stakes (G3) over 10.5 furlongs at Chester in England, and he was to prove the form to be no fluke in the summer. He was sent to Royal Ascot in June, and looked even better there, winning the Hardwicke Stakes (G2) over 1½ miles with incredible ease. Await The Dawn dominated throughout the home straight and took the race as he pleased, beating Harris Tweed (GB) by three lengths.
The sky seemed to be the limit for Await The Dawn but difficult times were ahead. He was disappointingly dull when only third of five behind Twice Over in the Juddmonte International (G1) at York in August, and came back a very sick horse. A long break was needed, but Await The Dawn made a full recovery and he returned to racing action in the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs in November. O'Brien won the race, with St Nicholas Abbey, but Await The Dawn finished seventh. He is better than that showing, much better, and he is an interesting Duty Free contender.
Globeform: 123p
DARK SHADOW
Dark Shadow was favourite for the Kyoto Kinen (G2) over 2,200 metres in Japan last month but the step up in distance may have been a contributing factor to his defeat, as Trailblazer beat him. It was a promising start to the new season. Last year, Dark Shadow won two valuable events over 1,800 metres. He took the Epsom Cup (G3) at Tokyo racecourse in June, 2½ lengths clear of Able Chairman. Four months later, Dark Shadow confirmed his class landing the Mainichi Okan (G2) as the even money favourite. He did not have such an easy time of it that day, and he showed his battling qualities to come out best in a close finish involving four horses. He beat Real Impact by a neck. Mikkie Dream was another neck away in third, finishing just a head in front of the fourth placed Esihin Apollon — who is also being pointed at the Duty Free. Dark Shadow came up half a length short of another win in the Tenno Sho Autumn (G1) over 2,000 metres at Tokyo in late October. Tosen Jordan spoiled the party for Dark Shadow, while the favourite Buena Vista could only manage fourth. Four weeks later Buena Vista won the Japan Cup (G1), with Tosen Jordan second, giving Dark Shadow's form a boost.
Globeform: 121
PRESVIS
Presvis won the Dubai Duty Free (G1) last year, delivering his trademark finish to get up for a ¾ length win from River Jetez. Wigmore Hall, who had beaten Presvis into third when they prepped in the Jebel Hatta (G2), was now the one who had to settle for that placing. The French-trained Royal Bench finished fourth and Californian invader Victor's Cry came home fifth. It was a truly international finish, and we can expect a similar scenario this year. We can also expect to see Presvis playing a prominent part. The race was run too slowly in the early stages when he made his seasonal debut in the Al Rashidiya (G2) over the Duty Free trip in January. Presvis is always at the tail of the field and needs a strongly run race to produce his best, like in last year's Duty Free, when he finished very fast to pass tiring horses in the home straight. He has followed the same path as last year, via a run in the Jebel Hatta (G2) on Super Thursday, and finished ninth behind Master Of Hounds. He looked like a horse in need of that race; now it is the big day that matters.
Globeform: 121
