The first generational meeting of the year at Group 1 level and it’s left to Mars to represent the classic generation as the only three year old in the field.

He was the talking horse of the Ballydoyle two year old’s ever before he hit the track. His Dundalk debut only added to his reputation but the bad ground of last summer meant we didn’t see again until this years Guineas. A mid pack finish beaten 8 L was improved on in the Derby where he went down 3 3/4 L to Ruler Of The World. Back to a mile in the St James Palace he ran his best race when third to Dawn Approach and Toronado.

Aidan O’Brien comes double handed with another talking horse in Declaration Of War. He didn’t fire when the money was down in the Lockinge but came back with a vengeance in the Queen Anne over a mile. He’s won over this trip before, a minor event at the Curragh but today will test his stamina at the highest level.

Al Kazeem has proven himself at the distance in the Prince Of Wales where he beat Mukhadram and The Fugue making her seasonal debut. He was building on the defeat of Camelot in the Tattersalls Gold Cup. He’s a worthy favourite, both times he was the best horse in the race.

Pastorius hated the trip to Kranji for the Singapore International. He couldn’t handle the heat more particularly the humidity and the run should be forgiven. The German Derby winner last year where he accounted for Novelist, winner of the recent Grand Prix De Saint Cloud , proved himself in the Prix Ganay beating Maximos and Dunaden.

This is competitive as you’d expect. Al Kazeem keeps stepping up, the Fugue is bound to come on from her last run, Declaration Of War looked mighty last time, the German form of Pastorius looks solid but the one getting the weight is Mars.

Only one three year old has won this recently, See The Stars. Mars has a lot to live up to but the distance might prove to be his optimum and the weight for age could be the crucial factor.

He may well take the advantage.

Recommendation : Mars 11/2 win