held up in touch, headway over 2f out, effort and hampered over 1f out, kept on same pace
steadied start, held up, headway over 2f out, kept on, never on terms
in touch, led over 2f out, hung left over 1f out, headed and no extra close home
led, hung left throughout, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden and weakened over 2f out
pulled hard in rear, hung left and headway over 1f out, never on terms
held up in rear, effort over 2f out, never dangerous
soon tracking leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, edged left and soon ridden, run on to lead well inside final furlong
tracked leader, led over 3f out, headed over 2f out, no extra final furlong
In a good Group One contest, Echelon is selected ahead of Simply Perfect and Wake Up Maggie. Having already landed the Group One Falmouth Stakes two runs ago, and having finished third in the Group One Prix d'Astarte last time, Simply Perfect has to be fully respected here. To be fair, though, Barshiba was a length and a half behind her in France, the race having been run on soft going, and her saddle slightly slipped on that occasion. The latter has since finished last of nine in Leopardstown's Group One Matron Stakes, the winner that day being Echelon. So long as the going stays on the quick side, Echelon (who has actually won on good to soft) looks to be the one that they all have to beat today. Quick going would also ideally suit last season's Coronation Stakes winner, Nannina, who rates as a player if at her best, and last season's 1,000 Guineas winner, Speciosa, still has the ability to compete at this level if, once again, she is fully on song. Finally, Wake Up Maggie has generally been running well at Group Two and Three levels this season and it will be interesting to see how she fares in Group One company, but her chance is by no means a forlorn one. For the selection, though, we return to Echelon.
Echelon 9-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, 3rd and headway entering straight, led 1f out, ran on well, won at Leopardstown 1m fll stks Grp 1 gf in Sept beating Red Evie (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Harvest Queen (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, switched right over 2f out, smooth headway over 1f out, kept on to lead inside final furlong, won at Haydock 1m lst stk (1) gf in Sept beating Smart Enough (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Nannina 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, closed 4f out, held when hampered on rails over 2f out, beaten after, last of 8, 20l behind Peeping Fawn (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Speciosa (IRE) 14-1 (9-5) Led, ridden, headed just over 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 8, 8l behind Peeping Fawn (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Wake Up Maggie (IRE) 2-1fav (8-13) Held up, ridden over 2f out, headway, switched right over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 6, 3l behind Arabian Gleam (8-12) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sept.
Barshiba (IRE) 14-1 (8-12) Always in rear, last of 9, 7l behind Echelon (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m fll stks Grp 1 gf in Sept.
Darrfonah (IRE) 20-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, kept on without threatening from 2f out, 6th of 10, 5l behind Four Sins (8-12) at Curragh 1m 2f fll stk Grp 2 gf in Sept.
Majestic Roi (USA) 5-2fav (9-1) Held up behind, headway and not clear run approaching final furlong, soon ridden, ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 3/4l behind Medley (8-10) at Doncaster 7f lst fll stk (1) gf in Sept.
Simply Perfect 11-4jt-fav (8-7) Prominent, led briefly over 2f out, kept on gamely, 3rd of 12, 1l behind Darjina (8-7) at Deauville 1m Grp 1 gs in Jul.
Whazzis (8-5) Prominent, every chance, no extra, 6th of 12, 1 1/2l behind Kavafi (9-0) at Deauville 1m Grp 3 (1) sft in Aug.
