Dancing Brave
The race attracted a field of nine runners, eight trained in the United Kingdom and one in France. The favourite was the Michael Stoute-trained Shahrastani, a three-year-old colt owned by the Aga Khan who had won the Epsom Derby and Irish Derby. Stoute and the Aga Khan were also represented by the four-year-olds Shardari (Princess of Wales's Stakes and Dihistan (Hardwicke Stakes). Shahrastani's main opposition appeared likely to come from Dancing Brave who had won the 2000 Guineas, finished second in the Derby and then defeated older horses in the Eclipse Stakes. The French challenger was the four-year-old filly Triptych the winner of the Prix Marcel Boussac and the Irish 2000 Guineas who had finished second to Dancing Brave in the Eclipse. The other major contender was Petoski the winner of the previous year's race who was accompanied by his stable companions Boldden and Vouchsafe who were entered in the race to act as pacemakers. The only other runner was Supreme Leader, the winner of the Earl of Sefton Stakes and Westbury Stakes. Shahrastani headed the betting at odds of 11/10 ahead of Dancing Brave (6/4) with Petoski and Shardari next in the betting at 14/1.