led to 2f out, soon weakened
reared start, held up in rear, headway on outside 2f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, pushed along 5f out, never in contention
dwelt, tracked leader after 1f, led going easily 2f out, 3 lengths clear over 1f out, hard ridden final furlong, kept on gamely
held up, steady headway and pushed along 3f out, ridden to chase leading pair inside final 2f, stayed on same pace final furlong
in touch, effort 2f out, soon ridden and beaten
close up on outer, unable to quicken and hung left from 2f out, soon beaten
took keen hold in touch, effort on inner to chase leaders 2f out, ridden and weakened
held up, ridden 2f out, soon beaten
took keen hold in mid-division, lost place and dropped rear halfway, staying on but no chance when hampered 1f out
tracked leaders, ridden to chase winner 2f out, driven and no impression 1f out, closed at finish,always held
Whether Haafhd lines up or not, Soviet Song has been in the form of her life this season and she can make it four Group 1 wins in succession, with Refuse To Bend, Nayyir and Diamond Green likely to be involved in what promises to be a tremendous contest. Soviet Song meets Refuse To Bend on the same terms here as when that rival beat her by quarter-of-a-length in the Queen Anne at the Royal meeting, but can turn the tables now. Since then she has really come of age in this company, landing the Falmouth Stakes, the Sussex Stakes, when she beat Nayyir, and most recently a second defeat of Attraction in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. She will relish this ground and trip and she can get the better of Refuse To Bend this time. That rival went on to land the Eclipse after his course and distance success here, but subsequently ran a stinker in the Sussex and has to prove he is over that now. Nayyir was second in that Sussex Stakes on the same terms as today and we should not take his second outing at Goodwood a few days later too seriously, as the going had changed and he never looked happy on it. With this faster ground in his favour he won't be far away, while St James's Palace Stakes runner-up Diamond Green has continued to run some really good races in defeat since and will surely take a hand. If Haafhd does turn up then his chance is also respected, but for us, Soviet Song can complete a magnificent four-timer.
