slowly into stride, soon outpaced and struggling in rear
raced wide, prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
made most, ridden and pressed from 2f out, driven inside final furlong, held on gamely
with winner until over 2f out
broke well, soon steadied to be held up in touch, good headway to press winner 2f out, ridden and every chance 1f out, unable to quicken near finish
outpaced in rear, took closer order halfway, headway to go 3rd over 1f out, pressed leaders entering final furlong, driven and unable to quicken towards finish
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
chased leaders 5f
behind and outpaced, kept on from over 1f out, never nearer
The ground was fast when CONO ZUR made a winning debut in a Newcastle maiden on his only start so far in August but the son of Anabaa should have no difficulty in handling the cut in the ground today and gets the vote to make a winning start in nursery company with the main dangers rated as Transfixed and Count Bertoni. The Steve Gollings-trained colt ran well in a maiden at York two starts ago and has run well on the only occasion that he has raced on a softer surface so he has to be strongly considered. Michael Bell's Professor John was well beaten on his only start when encountering cut in the ground, while Kumbeshwar looks reasonably well treated and would have every chance if handling the conditions that he faces for the first time. Being by Captain Rio, Michael Chapman's Baby Judge should handle the ground but has disappointed on it before and of more interest may be Transfixed. The David Evans-trained filly has shown a decent level of form, including on a soft surface and she rates the main danger to Mark Johnston's Cono Zur.
Cono Zur (FR) 7-1 (9-3) Made all, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at Newcastle 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Aug beating Unshakable Will (9-3) by 3l, 9 ran.
Transfixed (IRE) 8-1 (9-7) Prominent, led 5f out, ridden over 1f out, headed entering final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Whistle Blower (8-10) at Brighton 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gd in Oct.
Kumbeshwar 8-1 (9-2) Tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 11, 4l behind Bahraj (8-3) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Professor John (IRE) 33-1 (9-1) Always in rear, well behind final 3f, tailed off, 13th of 14, 35l behind Ransom Note (8-8) at Goodwood 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Oct.
Count Bertoni (IRE) 5-1 (8-13) Pushed along towards rear, soon tracking leaders, weakened final furlong, 4th of 5, 11l behind Karaka Jack (9-2) at Southwell 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) fbs in Oct.
Music Of The Moor (IRE) 12-1 (9-7) Close up on outside, ridden and outpaced 3f out, soon lost place, weakened and eased final furlong, 12th of 13, 42l behind Landowner (9-4) at Pontefract 1m 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) gf in Oct.
Cassidy K 22-1 (7-12) Towards rear, never dangerous, 8th of 11, 14l behind Bahraj (8-3) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Oct.
Baby Judge (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, one pace, 3rd of 14, 5l behind House Red (9-4) at Leicester 7f 2yo hcp 0-65 (6) gf in Oct.
Lord's Seat 80-1 (7-13) Chased leader, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 11, 13l behind Starry Mount (8-11) at Ayr 7f 2yo hcp 0-75 (5) sft in Oct.