Sakheer looks ready for elite company following smooth Mill Reef display

The Dubai Duty Free Mill Reef Stakes has been a bit of a mixed bag in recent years and this year's renewal certainly lacked some depth, but after another impressive success it's hard not to get excited about Sakheer, who again oozed class in the Group 2.

The fact none of the past four winners has since won a race sounds a note of caution, but with Harry Angel and Ribchester among the last ten winners the contest can produce top-class horses and Sakheer is clearly ready for a crack at a Group 1 after this striking success.

The form would not be the strongest, with the leading candidate on the figures Shouldvebeenaring below his Ripon win in fourth and runner-up Rousing Encore having yet to progress from his sixth in the Coventry Stakes. The latter's form is solid though, with his penultimate run at Naas working out nicely, and he helps set the standard with Sakheer improving to a Racing Post Rating of 110+.