held up towards rear mostly on outside, racing keenly 8f out, weakened from over 2f out
pushed along away from stalls, soon with leader, losing place when not much room over 2f out, weakened
in touch in mid-division, pushed along 4f out, weakened from 2f out
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, led very close home
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon well beaten
started very slowly, in rear, effort under pressure over 2f out, went 4th over 1f out, no impression
held up towards rear, headway from over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, no impression final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on but pressed, headed very close home, just lost out
made most until ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out
NonRunner
The better ground on the inner course should see STRADIVARIUS take his place bidding to repeat last year’s success. Unbeaten in his last 10 outings, John Gosden’s brilliant stayer should confirm latest running in the Doncaster Cup with Cleonte and Max Dynamite and has beaten the Ballydoyle duo South Pacific and Capri in the past. Aidan O’Brien also runs Kew Gardens today with last year’s St Leger hero attempting 2m for the first time along with another Gosden runner in Royal Line. Listed winner Withhold tries his luck at the highest level though all his winning form has been on faster going while Mekong and Bin Battuta are others upped in class with plenty to find.
Bin Battuta 4-1 (9-7) Tracked leaders on outside, pushed along 3f out, headway on outside to lead over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, found extra last strides, bit in hand, won at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Sep beating Commander Cole (9-4) by nk, 9 ran.
Capri (IRE) 5-4fav (9-9) Soon led and went on, pushed along over 3f out and reduced lead, headed under 2f out, dropped to 3rd and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 11 3/4l behind Kastasa (8-10) at Curragh 2m Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in Sep.
Cleonte (IRE) (9-2) 7th of 10, 18 1/4l behind Holdthasigreen (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 2m 4f Grp 1 gs in Oct.
Kew Gardens (IRE) 7-2 (9-9) Waited with, 8th after halfway, switched left towards outer early straight and pushed along, soon headway but no impression, stayed on well inside final furlong without troubling winner, 2nd near finish, 2nd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Search For A Song (8-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Sep.
Max Dynamite (FR) 14-1 (9-5) Held up, steady headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, one pace final furlong, 3rd of 5, 4 1/4l behind Stradivarius (9-10) at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Mekong 14-1 (9-7) Held up towards rear, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out, 10th of 22, 7 1/4l behind Mustajeer (9-5) at York 1m 6f hcp (2) gf in Aug.
Royal Line 6-1 (9-5) Soon chasing leaders, stayed on under pressure to lead final 135 yards, soon clear, hung left towards finish, won at Kempton 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) pol in Sep beating Mootasadir (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Stradivarius (IRE) 1-9fav (9-10) Soon led, headed after 3f, prominent, went 2nd well over 2f out, shaken up to lead 1f out, comfortably, won at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep beating Cleonte (9-5) by 1 3/4l, 5 ran.
Withhold 10-11fav (9-3) Made all, set steady pace, pushed along over 2f out, quickened clear over 1f out, unchallenged, won at Newmarket 2m lst stks (1) gd in Sep beating Austrian School (9-3) by 6l, 5 ran.
South Pacific 16-1 (8-8) Held up in rear, under pressure over 3f out, soon beaten, 6th of 8, 9 1/2l behind Stradivarius (9-9) at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
