soon tracking leader, taken wide in straight, challenged 2f out, soon ridden to lead, hung left under pressure over 1f out, stayed on strongly
steadied start, held up last, no headway final 2f, tailed off and eased
led and set steady pace, increased tempo halfway, pushed along 3f out, ridden and headed inside final 2f, lost 2nd over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up off the pace in 6th, headway towards outside 2f out, stayed on into never dangerous 3rd inside final furlong
held up in 5th, pushed along weakened 2f out, tailed off and eased
held up just off the pace in 4th, pushed along over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
soon settled 3rd, went 2nd and switched right over 1f out, stayed on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner
steadied start, held up in last pair, closer on wide outside 2f out, plugged on in never dangerous 5th
Dual Oaks winner Sea of Class ended last year with a terrific effort in the Arc at Longchamp, despite an unfavourable draw. She has the beating of Andre Fabre’s Waldgeist on that form but may be found wanting on her reappearance up against race-fit rivals including Magical. The latter won a Group 1 here in October and has been in imperious form so far this year, beating lesser rivals than these at the Curragh last month. She’ll go close and is preferred to stablemate Hunting Horn but CRYSTAL OCEAN (NAP) is fancied to come out best. The latter has warmed up nicely for this with a couple of Group 3 victories this season having landed the Hardwicke at last year’s meeting and then beaten only a neck in the King George here in July. A repeat of either of those efforts could see Sir Michael Stoute’s charge land his first Group 1. The progressive Zabeel Prince was winning for the first time at the highest level when successful in the Prix d’Ispahan at Longchamp last month but this is tougher while Desert Encounter and the Japanese mare Deirdre look up against it.
Crystal Ocean 2-9fav (9-3) Led 1f, tracked leader, tracked new leader 3f out, led 2f out, clear over 1f out, shaken up inside final furlong, stayed on well, readily, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in May beating Laraaib (9-3) by 2l, 7 ran.
Desert Encounter (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) last of 8, 16 1/2l behind Old Persian (8-13) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Hunting Horn (IRE) 12-1 (8-7) Spurted ins, collared, 4th of 9, 1l behind Channel Maker (8-12) at Belmont Park 1m 3f stks gd in May.
Waldgeist (9-2) won at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 1 stks gd in Apr beating Study Of Man (9-2) by 4 1/2l, 5 ran.
Zabeel Prince (IRE) (9-2) won at Longchamp 1m 1f Grp 1 in May beating Study Of Man (9-2) by 3/4l, 9 ran.
Deirdre (JPN) (8-10) 6th of 13, 3 3/4l behind Win Bright (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Apr.
Magical (IRE) 2-7fav (9-0) Chased leader in 2nd, took closer order to challenge on outer from over 2f out and soon led, pushed along and went clear from over 1f out, easily, won at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in May beating Flag Of Honour (9-3) by 7l, 5 ran.
Sea of Class (IRE) (8-9) 2nd of 19, shd behind Enable (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 4f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
