raced wide, held up, pushed along halfway, effort approaching 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, driven to lead well inside final furlong, stayed on
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, never nearer
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
slowly into stride, held up in rear, pushed along over 3f out, good run on inside to go 4th over 1f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
tracked leading pair, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace from over 1f out
in touch, ridden over 2f out, weakened well over 1f out
broke well, steady to rear after 1f, ridden over 2f out, never near leaders
led, ridden 2f out, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
A competitive nursery to solve here and we will side with DIAM QUEEN to get the better of Come on Safari and Miss Starlight. The selection was narrowly held off a 3lb lower mark last time behind Spanish Duke and strict reading of that from leaves Luca Cumani's filly something to find with Come on Safari, but with that rival having to overcome an absence of over two months we select Diam Queen to make race fitness tell back over a trip that should suit. Peter Winkworth's horse won with plenty in hand last time and a mark of 77 seems fair for this handicap debut but the stables runners aren't going great guns and for that reason he is reluctantly opposed. Miss Starlight is another who comes into the race in top form having opened her account at Wolverhampton last time but the horse seemed to relish every yard of that 1m1f trip and so may not be suited by today's conditions. Of the remainder Mark Johnston's last time out winner Nave merits respect as does the improving Wild Rockette but for the winner we return to Diam Queen.
Miss Starlight 6-1 (8-12) Held up, ridden over 3f out, headway to chase clear leader over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo mdn stks (5) pol in Sep beating Krymian (9-3) by 1l, 8 ran.
Diam Queen (GER) 4-1 (9-0) Dwelt, in rear, ridden over 2f out, headway soon after, driven to chase winner entering final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 8, 3/4l behind Spanish Duke (9-0) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Come On Safari (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) Settled in rear, good headway from 2f out, soon switched right, led well inside final furlong, ran on, won at Folkestone 7f 2yo mdn aut (5) gf in Aug beating Onyx Of Arabia (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Flipping 80-1 (8-10) Tracked leaders, weakened final furlong, 8th of 19, 6l behind Antoniola (8-6) at Doncaster 1m 2yo hcp (3) gd in Oct.
Wild Rockette 7-1 (9-6) Held up in mid-division, headway and centre over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd well inside final furlong, not reach winner, 2nd of 13, 2 1/4l behind Christopher Wren (9-2) at Windsor 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gs in Oct.
If I Were A Boy (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Tracked leaders, not much room approaching 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 11l behind Nafura (9-7) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 2yo hco 0-75 (5) pol.
Danger Mulally 20-1 (8-8) With leaders, ridden and weakening when hampered approaching 2f out, 12th of 14, 10l behind Desert Auction (9-6) at Newbury 7f 2yo hcp (4) gs in Aug.
Exceedthewildman 7-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 10l behind Noafal (9-3) at Newbury 6f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Oct.
Nave (USA) 3-1fav (9-2) Held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, stayed on to lead towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) pol beating Calypso Star (9-5) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
