led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leading trio, challenged and every chance 2f out, soon ridden, weakened final furlong
held up in 6th, headway on outside going well over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven and kept on final furlong, caught on line
pulled hard, tracked leader, pushed along to lead narrowly 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
took keen hold, tracked leading pair, challenged 2f out, still pressing leaders over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong
steadied start, held up last, pushed along and not keen halfway, hung badly left from over 3f out, kept on reluctantly inside final furlong, not resolute
held up in 5th on inside, pushed along and unable to quicken over 2f out, strong run on outer inside final furlong, led on line
A rather interesting race in which it might be worth chancing the Derby sixth AL ZIR. Not seen since that strong performance, the Saeed Bin Suroor-trained colt is back at a track where he has a good record, including a third in the Racing Post Trophy. More positive tactics will probably be employed in this smaller field and he looks worth a bet. The biggest threat could be Wigmore Hall who ran a cracker in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington last month and assuming all is well on this relatively quick return he must go close, although a stop-start gallop would go against him. Taameer is fascinating as he returns from over 500 days off the track and he commands respect on his second to subsequent Leger runner-up Kite Wood, whilst Chock A Block and Prizefighting need to step up on their most recent form, although the latter's second to Rewilding in May reads very well. The tongue-tie is back on Black Spirit whose recent jaunts to France have been relatively fruitless, but he rates more of a threat than the filly Myplacelater.
Chock A Block (IRE) 10-1 (9-9) Held up in touch, driven to challenge well over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, ran on closing stages, never troubled leaders, 4th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Lady Eclair (8-12) at Chester 1m 5f listed hcp 0-110 (1) gs in Aug.
Taameer 13-8fav (9-0) Held up 5th, progress on outside and effort over 2f out, soon ridden, no impression over 1f out, 5th of 6, 6l behind Above Average (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr '09.
Wigmore Hall (IRE) 3-1 (8-11) Off bit slow,angled 4w, 2nd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Paddy O'prado (9-0) at Arlington(USA) 1m 2f 3yo Grp 1 in Aug.
Al Zir (USA) 14-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, steadied to mid-division 9f out, 5th straight, ridden and disputing well held 4th 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 19, 12l behind Workforce (9-0) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Black Spirit (USA) 7-1 (8-11) 3rd of 7, 3 1/2l behind Scalo (9-2) at Deauville(FR) 1m 2f 3yo Grp 2 (1) sft in Aug.
Prizefighting (USA) 15-2 (9-0) Always in rear, switched towards center over 3f out, last of 7, 18l behind Corsica (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 5f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Myplacelater 14-1 (8-7) Always in rear, struggling over 3f out, tailed off, 12th of 13, 33l behind Eastern Aria (9-6) at Goodwood 1m 6f flls Group 3 stks (1) gd in Jul.
