Thursday's Meydan Classic marks the return of Abdulla Al Mansoori's First Selection (Spa) (Diktat {GB}), the winner of last year's G3 Solario S. who was last seen finishing a good fifth in Longchamp's G1 Qatar Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere on Arc day Oct. 4. First Selection is four for six overall; he won his first two outings in the spring before finishing ninth in the G2 Coventry S. at Royal Ascot, and bounced back to add a Newmarket handicap prior to his Solario score. The Simon Crisford charge is by far the highest rated runner here, and gets the services of Ryan Moore. First Selection's greatest opposition could come in the form of Comicas (Distorted Humor), who won this race's track and trip trial first-up Feb. 11. He ran down the front-running maiden Ajwad (GB) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) that day, with fellow Godolphin colorbearer Pure Diamond (GB) (Street Cry {Ire}) roaring down the middle of the track to grab third.
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