held up in touch, chased leaders over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened approaching final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, soon chasing winner, stayed on well final furlong
tracked leader, driven to lead 2f out, held on well under pressure
behind, effort over 2f out, soon no impression
lead, ridden and headed 2f out, hard ridden and rallied inside final furlong, kept on well under pressure
held up in rear, switched left and headway over 1f out, soon hard ridden, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, not reached winner
held up, never dangerous
Nonrunner
Whilst it is disappointing that last year's winner 'Gorgeous ' George Washington doesn't attempt to defend his crown, we still have a top quality field in this Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, and the vote goes Darjina ahead of Ramonti and Excellent Art. Chasing her fourth Group One success of the season, Darjina has proven herself to be one of the top fillys in Europe. She is a pound worse off with Ramonti for that win last time out when she showed a scintillating turn of foot and having matured physically in recent months, Alain De Royer-Dupre's charge, described by jockey Christophe Soumillon as 'the best filly i have ridden over a mile', gets the nomination. However, the weather may have its say and if the ground were to soften, then it would further increase the chances of Excellent Art. Jamie Spencer should have won on this horse at Longchamp however he made amends with a win in the St James's Palace and a narrow second in the Sussex Stakes. He is worse off at the weights with his conqueror that day, Ramonti, but he would not welcome the rain. Ramonti has been a revelation since coming over from Italy and his jockey, a certain Mr Dettori, is confident of a massive run. Nannina is a classy filly and shouldn't be ignored, whilst Cesare, Dunelight, Blue Ksar and Vital Equine have all fallen short in the past at this level. Rule out Duke Of Marmalade at your peril as he will love this drop in trip, however it is the star three-year-old filly who is fancied to win again.
Blue Ksar (FR) 9-4jt-fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, leading pair after 1f, ridden and every chance over 1f out, faded final 100 yards, last of 6, 2l behind Stotsfold (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Cesare 11-10fav (9-4) Held up in last pair, headway well over 1f out, ridden and every chance entering final furing, no extra final 100 yards, 2nd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Echelon (8-12) at Goodwood 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug.
Ramonti 9-4 (9-2) Raced in close 2nd, led 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 9, 2l behind Darjina (8-8) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gd.
Stormy River (FR) (9-4) Held up, short-lived effort 2f out, 5th of 6, 8l behind Manduro (9-4) at Deauville 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Duke Of Marmalade (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, ridden to lead entering straight, headed over 1f out, kept on, 2nd of 6, 1 1/2l behind Dylan Thomas (9-7) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf.
Excellent Art 15-8fav (9-0) Held up, pushed along 3f out, hard driven and went 2nd approaching final furlong, closed well under pressure near finish, not reach winner, 2nd of 8, hd behind Ramonti (9-7) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 (1) gd in Aug.
Darjina (FR) 9-2 (8-8) Raced in 3rd, pushed along and went 2nd 2f out, led approaching final final furlong, ran on well, won at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gd beating Ramonti (9-2) by 2l, 9 ran.
Dunelight (IRE) 9-4fav (8-13) Head on floor leaving stalls, soon recovered to chase leader, every chance final 2f, held near finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Lovelace (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Nannina 6-1 (9-5) Mid-division, closed 4f out, held when hampered on rails over 2f out, beaten after, last of 8, 20l behind Peeping Fawn (8-10) at Goodwood 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) gf in Aug.
Vital Equine (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Disputed lead, led 2 1/2f out, headed under 2f out, 4th over 1f out, kept on same pace, 6th of 12, 3l behind Cockney Rebel (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Grp 1 gf in May.
