Nine chasing Prince prize

A field of nine will go to post for Wednesday`s Prince of Wales`s Stakes, the race that is sure to play a part in deciding Europe`s champion middle-distance performer this season.

All of the leading protagonists were left in the Stg£250,000 Group One contest at this morning`s final declaration stage.

Heading the list are last season`s Breeders` Cup Turf hero Kalanisi and 2000 Emirates World Series winner Fantastic Light, representing the connections of last year`s brilliant but ill-fated winner, Dubai Millennium.

Kalanisi finished second to the Fantastic Light when the pair clashed in last month`s Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh but connections of Sir Michael Stoute`s charge are confident of reversing the placings.

His big-race rider Kieren Fallon explained in his News of the World column: 'This looks like the race of the meeting.

'Kalanisi`s not very big but he`s got one hell of an engine and a great heart.

'He finished behind the fitter Fantastic Light at the Curragh last time. But I believe we`ll see a different horse on Wednesday.'

Dubai Millennium`s trainer Saeed bin Suroor is hopeful of winning the race for Godolphin for the second consecutive year.

Fantastic Light will again have the services of pacemaker Give The Slip next Wednesday, as he did when winning at the Curragh.

'He needs a good pace in a race at a mile and a quarter and Give The Slip does a good job,' the trainer explained.

'Fantastic Light is a brave horse and always gives his best.'

Trainer John Gosden is confident that Observatory will handle the step up to a mile and a quarter in the event.

The colt will be returning to the scene of his wins in the Jersey Stakes (seven furlongs) and Queen Elizabeth II Stakes (a mile) last year, and is reported in good heart after his short-head victory in last month`s Prix d`Ispahan at Longchamp.

'When Dubai Millennium won last year there wasn`t any real depth but this year we have a pretty vintage crop and it is a field of real depth,' Gosden said.

'With Fantastic Light, Hightori and Kalanisi it is a stunning race - as good an older-horse race as you would find anywhere in the world.

'Observatory has won over one mile one and a half furlongs and I am sure he will stay this trip. When he beat Giant`s Causeway here over a mile he took the whole of the straight to get there.'

Hightori, the narrow d`Ispahan runner-up, travels over from France to renew rivalry.

Also in contention is Singapore International Airlines Cup winner Endless Hall.

The Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old will be having his first race in England after being campaigned almost exclusively abroad, although he did triumph in the Scottish Classic at Ayr last season.

Completing the field are Aidan O`Brien`s Bach, Ian Balding`s Border Arrow and the Gerard Butler-trained Compton Bolter.