held up in 6th, pushed along over 2f out, no progress and soon beaten
held up in last pair, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out stayed on into 3rd final 100 yards and closed on 2nd, no chance with winner
pulled hard, tracked leader until over 3f out, ridden and weakened over 2f out
steadied start, held up well in rear, ridden and struggling over 2f out, never a factor
tracked leading trio, pushed along to challenge over 2f out, ridden in 2nd and every chance over 1f out, no impression on winner when lost 2nd inside final furlong, lost 3rd 100 yards out, soon weakened
led, headed well over 1f out, chased winner under pressure until over 1f out, not quicken inside final furlong, 4th and one pace final 100 yards
held up in 5th, headway 2f out, ridden and went 2nd inside final furlong, kept on same pace and no impression on winner, just held on for 2nd
A fascinating renewal of this Group 1 to get proceedings under way. Solow beat The Grey Gatsby by more than four lengths in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March and beat three rivals, including an out-of-sorts Cirrus Des Aigles, in the Prix D'Ispahan at Longchamp last month. It's possible he's still progressing but is up against an Asian superstar here in ABLE FRIEND. He's won his last six in Hong Kong over this trip, including four Group 1 races, and has reportedly been working well since arriving in this country. Toormore has had a rear view of stablemate Night Of Thunder on all four occasions that they've met previously and the Godolphin colt is expected to come out on top again, though only a neck separated the pair in the Lockinge. Here Comes When and Cougar Mountain are both held on Newbury form while Glory Awaits is hard to catch right, though did beat Toormore in a Group 2 in Turkey in September. The mare Esoterique was only a length behind Night Of Thunder at Longchamp in September but usually comes up short at the highest level.
Able Friend (AUS) (9-0) won at Sha Tin(HK) 1m Grp 1 gf in May beating Rewarding Hero (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 6 ran.
Cougar Mountain (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden over 1f out, never a factor, 11th of 16, 6l behind Night Of Thunder (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Glory Awaits (IRE) 9-1 (9-4) Led after 1f, ridden and headed entering final 2f, weakened final furlong, 7th of 8, 7l behind French Navy (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Here Comes When (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway to chase leaders over 3f out, weakened inside final furlong, 6th of 16, 2 3/4l behind Night Of Thunder (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Night Of Thunder (IRE) 11-4fav (9-0) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out, led 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, driven out, won at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in May beating Toormore (9-0) by nk, 16 ran.
Solow 4-9fav (9-2) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f Grp 1 gd in May beating Gailo Chop (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 4 ran.
Toormore (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, led over 3f out, headed 2f out, kept on and held towards finish, 2nd of 16, nk behind Night Of Thunder (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Esoterique (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) 3rd of 8, 2 3/4l behind Bawina (8-8) at Saint-Cloud(FR) 1m Grp 2 gd in May.
