held up, headway over 4f out, outpaced 3f out, well beaten over 1f out
chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, well beaten over 1f out
chased leader, switched right over 3f out, challenged over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged left inside final furlong, stayed on well
raced keenly, led, switched left to inside over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, not much room and beaten inside final furlong, eased
Weekender is Frankie Dettori’s only ride on the card and is weighted to reverse last year’s running at York with Red Verdon. The latter won a Group 3 race over 1m6f on that occasion for which he’s penalised, though both of the above have something to prove over today’s longer trip. MILDENBERGER has the edge on race fitness having scored over 2m at Lingfield in January and Mark Johnston’s colt may come out best again, despite the unfavourable terms. Eddystone Rock is another returning from a lay-off and has plenty to find in this company.
Red Verdon (USA) (8-8) 8th of 18, 3 1/2l behind Mer De Glace (8-10) at Caulfield 1m 4f Grp 1 hcp gd in Oct.
Eddystone Rock (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Mid-division, pushed along over 6f out, lost place 3f out, no danger after, 17th of 30, dist behind Stratum (9-7) at Newmarket 2m 2f hcp stks (2) sft in Oct.
Mildenberger 9-4 (9-5) Chased leaders, went 2nd after 2f, led over 2f out, clear 1f out, ran on well, easily, won at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Jan beating Original Choice (9-5) by 5 1/2l, 4 ran.
Weekender 11-2 (9-6) Prominent, every chance 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 7th of 8, 7 3/4l behind Pablo Escobarr (9-2) at Kempton 1m 4f lst stks (1) pol in Dec.