prominent at ordinary pace, brought outside two leaders to challenge from 2f out, drifted badly left and stayed on well inside final furlong to lead close home
soon led at ordinary pace, almost joined from 5f out, strongly pressed from 2f out, kept on well final furlong, headed and dropped to 3rd near finish
waited with in rear at ordinary pace, no impression under pressure and kept on same pace from over 1f out
soon prominent at ordinary pace, almost on terms from 5f out, ridden to challenge from over 2f out, soon every chance, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong
tracked leaders at ordinary pace, 3rd approaching straight, kept on under pressure without matching principals inside final furlong
waited with towards rear at ordinary pace, 5th approaching straight, no extra from over 1f out
waited with at ordinary pace, 6th approaching straight, progress to challenge and switched inside drifting winner under 1f out, stayed on well into 2nd near line
Just Pretending looks the pick of the Ballydoyle trio but for once the stable doesn't hold the upper hand as Joseph O'Brien's mount was beaten over 2l by Riposte in the Ribblesdale. Lady Cecil's filly showed definite signs of inexperience at Ascot and it will be a surprise if the runner-up can reverse the form but the selection has to go to CHICQUITA, a cracking spare ride for Johnny Murtagh. She was having only her third start when justifying her trainer's decision to step her into Group 1 company in the Prix De Diane at Chantilly where she defied inexperience to finish runner-up to the classy Treve. With more to come she can get the better of Talent, who will be fancied to complete a famous Epsom/Curragh Oaks double. She was the second string behind stable companion Secret Gesture in the fillies' classic but a strong pace played to her strengths and she won quite easily in the end. Alive Alive Oh is a very smart filly who easily outpointed Magical Dream at Navan though she's only raced on ground with plenty of give. Venus De Milo hasn't faced this sort of quality but is potentially very useful and it would be no shock if she came up trumps.
Chicquita (IRE) 25-1 (8-13) 2nd of 11, 4l behind Treve (8-13) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gs in Jun.
Just Pretending (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Took keen hold, held up in last pair, headway over 2f out, hanging right when driven and went 3rd over 1f out, stayed on to 2nd inside final furlong, never going pace to reach winner, 2nd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Riposte (8-12) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo fll Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun.
Magical Dream (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear early, 5th halfway, ridden into 4th 1f out, soon challenged, narrow lead final 100 yards, headed close home, 2nd of 8, hd behind Midnight Soprano (9-9) at Cork 1m 4f flls Group 3 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Riposte 9-2 (8-12) Slowly into stride, held up towards, rear, good headway over 2f out, quickened to challenge 2f out, soon led, ridden and in command over 1f out, stayed on strongly, won at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo fll Grp 2 (1) gf in Jun beating Just Pretending (8-12) by 2 1/4l, 9 ran.
Scintillula (IRE) 5-1 (8-8) Led, strongly pressed and narrowly headed from 2f out, rallied well and every chance after, kept on well without quite matching winner, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Count Of Limonade (9-0) at Curragh 1m Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Talent 20-1 (9-0) Steadied start keen in rear, headway 2f out, ridden and hung left approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, driven and ran on, won at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gs in May beating Secret Gesture (9-0) by 4l, 11 ran.
Venus de Milo (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Settled in mid-division and 8th halfway, 9th and switched right 2f out, headway on outer to go 3rd 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead 50 yards out, won going away, won at Naas 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gf in Jun beating Opera Gloves (9-0) by 3/4l, 11 ran.
Alive Alive Oh 11-10fav (9-0) Held up behind leaders, travelling well in 4th 2f out, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, stayed on strongly and quickened smartly final furlong, impressive, won at Navan 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) in May beating Magical Dream (9-3) by 6l, 7 ran.
