held up, headway and not clear run 2f out, staying on and challenging for 4th when badly hampered inside final furlong, not recover
slowly into stride, towards rear and never dangerous
chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
held up, headway and switched left over 1f out, ran on
behind, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
led, headed over 3f out, soon ridden, weakened
tracked leaders, led over 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakening when badly hampered inside final furlong
held up, headway 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace
held up in touch, quickened well to lead over 1f out, ran on well, driven out
tracked leaders, going well and not clear run from 2f out, kept on final furlong, not recover
A terrific field for the renewal of this prestigious mile event, two thousand guinea's victor Haafhd is reported back to his best and must be considered, but we prefer the four-year-old's Soviet Song and Refuse To Bend, with the last named getting the vote. The Godolphin star has returned to form with a vengeance, landing the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting, before stepping up in trip to land the Eclipse at Sandown. In this frame of mind he will be very difficult to stop in his bid for a Group one hat-trick. Soviet Song is the obvious danger, she put up a terrific fight against the selection at Ascot, going down by just a neck in one of the races of the season. She then went on to dispose of the flying filly Attraction in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, which does make you think last year's generation is superior to this season's. However, Barry Hills has said that Haafhd is the best miler he has trained since Tap On Wood, which is some compliment, and following a lack lustre effort in the St James's Palace Stakes he expects a much better performance this afternoon. The ever consistent Norse Dancer is one that may be fighting for a place, but Refuse To Bend can give Godolphin and Dettori yet another top prize.
