Verdict

PREMIO LOCO is admirably consistent and well up to winning at this level and above as he showed when landing the Group 2 Summer Mile at Ascot in July. Chris Wall's seven-year-old can't quite manage an elusive Group 1 but ran another excellent race behind Canford Cliffs in the Lockinge and goes unpenalised here. Rio De La Plata improved out of all recognition as last season progressed and followed a superb effort when beaten a head in the Prix Du Moulin with two victories in the highest grade in Italy. He's penalised for those successes, however, and entries in all the major Group 1's of the summer suggest he might not quite be ready for this and it would be no great surprise to see his stablemate Vesuve, who wasn't far behind him in the Strensall Stakes at York, reverse the form. Awzaan's brilliant juvenile career culminated in a victory in the Middle Park and though he never really got going last term there were signs on his comeback at York that all is not lost. Fanunalter ran very well in Dubai but hasn't convinced at this level in the past while St Moritz and the veteran Mac Love don't quite look up to this.

Formwatch

Rio de La Plata (USA) (9-1) won at Capannelle(ITY) 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) sft in Nov beating Voila Ici (9-1) by 2 1/2l, 16 ran.

Awzaan 11-4 (9-2) Tracked leading pair, effort when not clear run and switched left over 1f out, ridden and no impression inside final furlong, 3rd of 5, 1 3/4l behind Chachamaidee (8-11) at York 7f cond Stakes (3) gd in May.

Fanunalter 3-1fav (8-13) 3rd of 12, 4l behind Rileyskeepingfaith (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Mar.

Mac Love 12-1 (9-4) Mid-division on rail, ran on same pace final 300m, 7th of 12, 7l behind War Monger (9-0) at Meydan(UAE) 1m 1f hcap gd in Feb.

Nationalism 9-2 (8-11) Held up behind, driven 4f out, ridden over 2f out, never able to challenge, 7th of 8, 19l behind Kingsfort (8-11) at Newmarket 1m Listed stks (1) gs in Oct.

Premio Loco (USA) 33-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway when bumped well over 1f out, went 3rd inisde final furlong, kept on, no impression on front pair, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Canford Cliffs (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in May.

St Moritz (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Held up towards rear, headway over 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, soon edged right, led entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at York 1m listed hcp 0-110 (1) gd in May beating Mont Agel (8-7) by hd, 18 ran.

Vesuve (IRE) 4-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders, ridden 3f out, chance over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 5l behind Tazeez (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gd in Oct.