The appropriately named Via Africa (SAf) (Var) makes her local debut for trainer Mike de Kock fresh off the rigorous quarantine excursion from South Africa, and while the South Africans generally need a run to sharpen them, this blaze-faced bay filly is one to note for the future. A three-time Grade 1 winner in her native country over this strip, Via Africa continually ran the opposition off their feet over sprint distances, winning 10 times–all but two of those over five furlongs–and never finishing off the board in 16 outings. De Kock also sends out the stakes-winning and Grade 1-placed Banadeer (Aus) (More Than Ready), who now has two starts under his girth in Dubai including a close third in a handicap here Feb. 19. Moviesta (Hard Spun) made a strong impression although winless last season in Europe. He was beaten just a length when fourth behind Sole Power (GB) (Kyllachy {GB}) in the G1 Nunthorpe S. in August, and caught the eye when a troubled third up the five-furlong straight in the G1 Prix de l'Abbaye on the Arc undercard in October. Sole Power has run close up in this race the last three years, and the evergreen sprinter makes his first outing since a ninth in the G1 Hong Kong Sprint Dec. 14 after a busy and fruitful European campaign. Ahtoug (GB) (Byron {GB} finished a narrow second in both this and the G1 Al Quoz Sprint last year, and he limbered up with a handicap win over course and distance Jan. 29.
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