switched right after start, held up, in rear, pushed along and struggling over 3f out, never a factor
took keen hold, held up, towards rear on outside, ridden and struggling over 2f out, never involved
tracked leaders, on outside, weakening when slightly bumped over 2f out
raced keenly, tracked clear leader, closed travelling well over 2f out, led approaching final furlong, shaken up and clear inside final furlong, stayed on strongly
last pair, never a factor
held up, in mid-division, switched left to outside going well over 2f out, ridden chasing leaders and edged right inside final 2f, stayed on into 2nd final 100 yards, no chance with winner
tracked leaders, on inside, switched left over 2f out, soon ridden, hung right and weakened over 1f out
took keen hold, tracking leaders, hampered and shuffled back into mid-division after 3f, headway on inside chasing leading trio over 2f out, ridden 2f out, unable to quicken over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
took keen hold, held up, in mid-division, switched left to outside over 2f out, soon hung right, ridden and no impression inside final 2f, weakened
led, clear 7f out until over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no chance with winner, lost 2nd final 100 yards, no extra and dropped to 4th towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened soon after
took keen hold, raced wide and held up, towards rear, headway on outside under pressure over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went never nearer 3rd towards finish, no chance with winner
steadied and switched right to inside rail after start, held up, towards rear, slightly hampered after 3f, pushed along over 2f out, headway when hampered inside final 2f, ridden and stayed on from over 1f out, went never nearer 5th towards finish
SEVENTH HEAVEN beat several of these in the process of winning both the Irish and Yorkshire Oaks. Her defeat of subsequent Arc heroine Found at York with stablemates Even Song and Pretty Perfect further behind makes the Ballydoyle filly the one to beat. Frankie Dettori rides Journey rather than California and the former was well ahead of Bocca Baciata and Speedy Boarding when runner-up in this last year. But the latter has improved this season and won her second Group 1 in France when successful over 1m2f at Chantilly on Arc day. Zhukova has been brought quietly along by Dermot Weld and has won a couple of Group 3s in Ireland this year. First-time headgear may bring further improvement and she’s preferred to Queen's Trust and Architecture, who both have something to find with the selection.
Bateel (IRE) (8-13) 5th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Speedy Boarding (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Aug.
Bocca Baciata (IRE) (8-13) last of 10, 12 3/4l behind Speedy Boarding (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Aug.
California (IRE) 8-1 (9-5) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace in 3rd from over 1f out, no chance with front pair, 3rd of 12, 5 1/4l behind Simple Verse (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Journey 11-8fav (9-8) Made all, ridden clear final furlong, comfortable, won at Newmarket 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gf in Sep beating Lady Of Camelot (9-3) by 3 1/4l, 8 ran.
Maleficent Queen 9-2 (8-13) Slowly into stride, led, headed over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Secret Number (9-0) at Ayr 1m 2f lst stks (1) sft in Sep.
Speedy Boarding 11-2 (9-2) won at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 fll (1) gd in Oct beating Pleascach (9-2) by shd, 7 ran.
Zhukova (IRE) 5-2 (9-9) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along entering straight and led under 2f out, ridden to assert over 1f out and 3 lengths clear 150 yards out, kept on, won at Leopardstown 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Us Army Ranger (9-3) by 1/2l, 5 ran.
Architecture (IRE) (9-2) Chased leaders, stayed on into 3rd but not enough to go with leaders, 3rd of 16, 2 1/4l behind Serienholde (9-2) at Dusseldorf 1m 3f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Even Song (IRE) 12-1 (8-11) Close up, tracked leader over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out, 7th of 12, 21 1/2l behind Seventh Heaven (8-11) at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Aug.
Pretty Perfect (IRE) 13-2 (8-7) Tracked leader, led 4f out, clear when ridden over 1f out, kept on, headed final strides, 2nd of 12, nk behind Simple Verse (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Promising Run (USA) 6-1jfav (9-1) In touch, ridden and outpaced over 2f out, rallied inside final furlong, went 4th near finish, 4th of 15, 5 1/4l behind Laugh Aloud (8-12) at Newmarket 1m lst fll stks (1) gf in Sep.
Queen's Trust 6-1 (8-11) In touch, good headway over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 12, 4l behind Seventh Heaven (8-11) at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Aug.
Seventh Heaven (IRE) 10-3 (8-11) Raced wide held up towards rear, headway and switched right 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at York 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gf in Aug beating Found (9-7) by 2 3/4l, 12 ran.
