held up in rear of main group, ridden 2f out, keeping on one pace, no chance when not much room inside final furlong
stumbled start, held up in touch on stand rail, pushed along halfway, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge
chased leader far side, ridden to lead that group inside final furlong, ran on, not quite pace of stand side leaders
dwelt, held up in rear of main group, switched right approaching final furlong, edged right and kept on under pressure inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders
chased leaders, ridden halfway, weakened approaching final furlong
raced far side, always last in group, ridden halfway, soon struggling
chased leading pair far side, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten
prominent, ridden 2f out, driven over 1f out, ran on under pressure inside final furlong, not quite reach winner
went right start, took keen hold tracking leaders, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
led far side quartet until inside final furlong, soon one pace, no chance with stand side group
led main group on rail throughout, driven over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, ran on well
switched left after start to race on outer of main group, pulled hard, held up, ridden halfway, weakened over 1f out
went right start, chased leaders, ridden 2f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
Nonrunner
The standard of sprinting in the UK has raised in the last couple of years and the first Group One for sprinters this season can go the way of FLEETING SPIRIT, who would become the first English sprinter to win it since The Tatling landed it in 2002. Fleeting Spirit was an outstanding juvenile filly throughout last season and confirmed that all her ability remains intact with a breathtaking victory on her seasonal debut in the Temple Stakes at Haydock, breaking the course record in the process. Slowly away at Haydock, the manner in which she effortlessly worked her way back into contention and quickened marked her down as a top-class sprinter and she can go to the top of the tree here. Takeover Target, winner of this contest in 2006 and fourth last year, has quite a task on his hands if he is to land it again. He has retained his form remarkably well despite his advancing years and while it has been well publicised that some fail to acknowledge that feat, he comes in as good if not better form than ever. However, he did land a sub-standard renewal two years ago and Saturday's Golden Jubilee over six furlongs could well be where he is more competitive. Captain Gerrard was not disgraced at Chantilly and had a number of today's rivals behind. He put up a career-best effort in the Palace House Stakes and this quick five furlongs is ideal for him as proven is last season's Cornwallis Stakes where he went very close to breaking the course record on a slow surface. A Group one success looked a formality where Dandy Man was concerned throughout last season but he has flattered to deceive on more than one occasion and now has something to prove. It will be intriguing to gauge how Nunthorpe winner Kingsgate Native fares on his first start as a three-year-old but it is surely asking too much of him to score here. Abraham Lincoln looks the best of Aidan O'Brien's pair and he has possibly each-way claims but no more than that. Fleeting Spirit is the one for us.
Abraham Lincoln (IRE) 7-1 (9-9) Held up, headway to 4th 2f out, improved to lead under 1f out, kept on well, headed close home, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Astronomer Royal (10-0) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 frm in May.
Benbaun (IRE) (9-9) Mid-division, one pace final 2f, 5th of 12, 5l behind Marchand D'or (9-9) at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft.
Dandy Man (IRE) 2-1fav (9-4) In touch, ridden and bumped over 1f out, soon weakened, 10th of 12, 10l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Haydock 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
Hoh Mike (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, effort on outside over 1f out, soon no extra, 5th of 11, 2 1/2l behind Balthazaar's Gift (9-0) at Windsor 6f lst stk (1) gs.
Magnus (AUS) (9-0) Chased leaders, went 2nd 1f out, no extra, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Takeover Target (9-0) at Kranji 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Matsunosuke 7-2 (9-3) Behind, not clear run on inner over 1f out, stayed on, not reached leaders, 5th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Stoneacre Lad (9-3) at Kempton 5f lst stk (1) pol.
Moorhouse Lad 7-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, ridden, weakened final furlong, 11th of 16, 5l behind Kingsgate Native (8-1) at York 5f Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Takeover Target (AUS) (9-0) Prominent, led over 2f out, ran on strongly, won at Kranji 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in May beating Magnus (9-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Enticing (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Led, ridden and headed over 1f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 5l behind Fleeting Spirit (8-11) at Haydock 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in May.
National Colour (SAF) (8-9) Slowly away, never near to challenge near side, last of 16, 18l behind Kelly's Landing (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 6f Grp 1 (1) std in Mar '07.
Equiano (FR) (8-9) Tracked leaders, led over 1f out, no extra when headed 100m out, 2nd of 12, nk behind Marchand D'or (9-9) at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft.
Kingsgate Native (IRE) 5-2fav (8-7) Tracked leaders, headway well over 1f out, reached 2nd inside final furlong, ran on same pace, 2nd of 17, 2l behind Benbaun (9-11) at Longchamp 5f Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Fleeting Spirit (IRE) 7-2 (8-11) Jumped awkwardly, mid-division, ridden and headway over 1f out, led well inside final furlong, won at Haydock 5f Grp 2 (1) gf in May beating Borderlescott (9-4) by 2l, 12 ran.
Reverence (9-2) In touch to 2f out, soon beaten, 9th of 12, 9l behind Marchand D'or (9-9) at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft.
Captain Gerrard (IRE) (8-11) Led to over 1f out, no extra when headed, 4th of 12, 4l behind Marchand D'or (9-9) at Chantilly 5f Grp 2 (1) sft.
