steaded start, pulled hard in rear, headway 2f out, every chance over 1f out, not quicken final furlong
tracked leader, led 2f out, soon headed, one pace final furlong
led 2f, stayed prominent hard ridden 2f out, no impression final furlong
towarads rear in touch, headway over 1f out, led inside final furlong, driven out
pulled hard and prominent, led after 2f, headed 2f out, kept on same pace
close up, outpaced 2f out, kept on one pace under pressure final furlong
prominent, shaken up 2f out, led over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
An excellent renewal of the Greenham and a good chance for us to see how many of last year's high-quality two-year-old colts have progressed during the winter. All of the field hold the 2,000 Guineas entry. Elusive City's won last year's Prix Morny by three-parts of a length from Zafeen. Gerard Butler's colt (who suffered from sore shins towards the end of the season) subsequently ran well in the Middle Park Stakes while Zafeen won the Group 3 Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury and was a good fourth in the Dewhurst. The $700,000 purchase, Makhlab, looked progressive at two and this rates his biggest test to date. He has a lot of potential. Muqbil hails from an in-form stable and went into many notebooks following an impressive course and distance win last August. He was then beaten in the Tattersalls Stakes at Newmarket but inexperience may have been the cause of his downfall there. He should have strengthened up over the winter and holds chances. Peace Offering looked pacey at two, winning the Cornwallis Stakes, while Richard Hannon's Gimcrack second Mister Links showed plenty of speed also. He ended up running in the Prix de l'Abbaye. A smashing race and not easy to be confident about naming the winner but Barry Hills' Makhlab just gets the vote.
