Ballydoyle run three with Alice Springs arriving on the back of a couple of Group 1 wins but taking on older horses and males in this. But she’s preferred to stablemates Cougar Mountain and last year’s Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf winner Hit It A Bomb. Spectre could run a big race for Germany on her second in the Prix du Moulin but Charlie Hills’ Dutch Connection looks up against it. Henry Candy didn’t fancy the turning downhill sprint for Limato and the latter takes his chance in this, though an earlier fourth in the Lockinge gives the Group 1 winning sprinter something to find with Queen Anne winner Tepin on collateral form. Last year’s winner ran below par in her prep-race when second to Photo Call but Mark Casse will have her back to her best for this. Miss Temple City is preferred to stable companion Ring Weekend having won her second Grade 1 of the year at Keeneland. But she seems best at that track and those behind were all returning from a lay-off including IRONICUS, Tourist and What a View. Shug McGaughey’s runner-up is of most interest of those given that was his first start since June and only his third of the year and the Hall of Fame trainer looks to have laid his Grade 2 winner out for this. Midnight Storm was the impressive winner of the Grade 1 Shoemaker Mile here back in June but will do well to adopt his usual front-running tactics from an outside draw.
What A View (USA) 8-1 (9-0) 4path 1/4, weakened, 8th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Miss Temple City (8-11) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Alice Springs (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Close up, headway to press leader over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, ridden and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Oct beating Always Smile (9-3) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Spectre (FR) (8-9) 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Vadamos (9-3) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Sep.
Miss Temple City (USA) 15-2 (8-11) Inched clear, lasted, won at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct beating Ironicus (9-0) by hd, 11 ran.
Tourist (USA) 5-1 (9-0) Steady 1st, not enough, 3rd of 11, 1/2l behind Miss Temple City (8-11) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Photo Call (IRE) 28-1 (8-12) Pace, held comfortably, won at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct beating Tepin (8-12) by 2 3/4l, 10 ran.
Dutch Connection (9-3) last of 6, 7 3/4l behind Vadamos (9-3) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Sep.
Tepin (USA) 2-5fav (8-12) Couldnt get to winner, 2nd of 10, 2 3/4l behind Photo Call (8-12) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Ironicus (USA) 3-1jfav (9-0) Rolling late, missed, 2nd of 11, hd behind Miss Temple City (8-11) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Limato (IRE) 8-11 (9-2) won at Chantilly 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct beating Karar (9-2) by 3l, 12 ran.
Ring Weekend (USA) 19-2 (9-0) Drifted out str,flattn, 7th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Miss Temple City (8-11) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Hit It A Bomb (USA) 18-1 (9-1) Raced towards far side, chased leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened soon after, 9th of 13, 10 1/4l behind Minding (8-12) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Midnight Storm (USA) 3-10fav (8-12) Bit off rail,held game, won at Del Mar 1m stks gd in Aug beating Om (8-8) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Cougar Mountain (IRE) 10-3fav (9-6) Raced centre, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 12, 3l behind Aclaim (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Oct.
