held up towards rear, headway 6f out, chased leader over 4f out, stayed on steadily from over 1f out, led towards finish
in touch on outer, ridden over 4f out, soon one pace, beaten and no chance over 2f out
held up mid-division, ridden over 5f out, dropped towards rear, no chance final 3f
mid-division, weakened over 3f out, no chance after
towards rear, good headway over 4f out to chase leaders, soon ridden along and one pace final 2f
led, quickened over 3f out, stayed on gamely until headed towards finish
tracked leaders to over 4f out, weakened
tracked leader to over 4f out, soon hard ridden and beaten over 2f out
Winged d'Argent can outstay his rivals here, the best of whom may be Dubai Success, Alcazar and Franklin Gardens. It is a pity that this year's renewal of the Sagaro Stakes is not actually run at Ascot as it would give Winged d'Argent the chance to emulate his half-brother Mana d'Argent who has gained all six career victories at the Berkshire track. However, on what he has shown so far, Winged d'Argent can take this race in his stride and maybe make up into another Cup horse in time for the Middlemam yard. Most of his winning has been on slower ground and he showed that he had trained on when securing the Further Flight Stakes at Nottingham on his return recently. With more to come and the fact that he gets the age allowance off most of the others, he is the pick to follow up. Dubai Success won the John Porter Stakes at Newbury this time last year, and stayed on well when third to Day Flight on his Newbury reappearance. If he is to go for the Yorkshire Cup then he must put up a good show here. Alcazar faded behind him last time and will need to improve to turn the tables, while Franklin Gardens may need the run but he looked the part when stepped up to staying distances last term, and is another that will no doubt have Cup aspirations. This is a little test for Winged d'Argent and will tell his trainer if he is up to it-we think that the answer will be yes.
Alcazar (IRE) 16-1 Tracked leader, left in lead over 4f out, headed soon after, weakened final furlong, 6th of 13, 8l behind Day Flight at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 gs.
Clear Thinking 25-1 In touch until weakened quickly 3f out, last of 8, 32l behind Westerner at Longchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Corrib Eclipse 9-2 Tracked leader, driven along 6f out, no chance final 2f, 4th of 5, 8l behind Defining at Ascot 2m lst stk (A1) gf in Sept.
Cruzspiel 33-1 Held up, progress into 6th 5f out, no extra before straight, 9th of 13, 13l behind Vinnie Roe at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 gd in Sept.
Dubai Success 5-1 Mid-division, effort and headway from over 3f out, every chance 1f out, no extra, 3rd of 13, 1 1/2l behind Day Flight at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 gs.
Franklins Gardens Led 4f out to 2f out, soon weakened, 6th of 8, 12l behind Westerner at Longchamp 1m 7f Grp 1 hvy in Oct.
Grampian 8-1 Behind, pushed along over 3f out, ridden 2f out, no extra final furlong, 4th of 6, 5l behind Counsel's Opinion at Doncaster 1m 4f stk gd.
Hello It's Me 7-2 Tracked leader, went 2nd over 3f out to 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 8, 7l behind Cold Turkey at Kempton 2m hcp gs in Mar.
Winged d'Argent (IRE) 6-4fav Led early, in touch, pushed along over 7f out, led over 3f out, soon ridden and headed, driven to lead again inside final furlong, ran on, won at Nottingham 1m 6f lst stk sft beating Frank Sonata by 1/2l, 7 ran.
