tracked leaders, 6th halfway, weakened over 2f out, eased from 1 1/2f out
soon led, headed 2f out, 2nd and ridden over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure last 100 yards, just failed
held up in touch, headway into 3rd 2f out, soon ridden and no impression, weakened final furlong
chased leaders, 4th under pressure 3f out, soon no extra
held up towards rear, effort and no impression over 2f out, eased final furlong
settled 3rd, 2nd halfway, led 2f out, 1 length advantage entering final furlong, stayed on well under pressure, strongly pressed close home, all out
soon chased leaders, 3rd under pressure halfway, lost place over 2f out, no extra
held up, 7th halfway, 5th and progress 2f out, moderate 4th and no impression final furlong
tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 4th and ridden 2f out, no impression, moderate 3rd final furlong
One of Europe's great juvenile events which has an incredible roll-of-honour in recent years. Aidan O'Brien generally sends his best youngsters for the event and has four entries here but Zoffany looks the stand-out from the yard. The son of Dansili was obviously below his best behind Strong Suit in the Coventry Stakes - his only defeat in six starts - and looked a colt of high quality when landing the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes over 6f here last time. However, he only had runner-up Glor Na Mara half-a-length behind and Jim Bolger's colt was then beaten a further length by PATHFORK in the Group 2 Futurity over the C&D when the other three Ballydoyle entries were behind. Jessica Harrington's colt was confirming the high impression of his easy victory over Robin Hood on his debut here and appears to have more scope than Zoffany. Godolphin won this with Dubawi in 2004 so the unbeaten Janood has to be respected though this is a massive step-up from his recent Newbury Listed success.
A Word Apart (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, close up entering straight, led 1 1/2f out, soon ridden clear, kept on well, comfortably, won at Leopardstown 7f 2yo mdn gf beating Long Live The King (9-0) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Casamento (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Led after 1f and made rest, kept on well under hands and heels from 2f out, easily, won at Tipperary 7f 2yo mdn gf in Aug beating Cannon Hill (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Glor Na Mara (IRE) 4-5fav (9-1) Tracked leaders on outer, 5th early, took closer order in 3rd 2f out, 2nd and ridden to challenge 1f out, soon led narrowly, kept on under pressure, headed close home, 2nd of 9, hd behind Dingle View (8-12) at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
High Ruler (USA) 25-1 (9-1) Chased leaders, 4th halfway, 6th and pushed along from 2f out, kept on same pace without threatening to regain 4th final furlong, 4th of 7, 4 1/2l behind Pathfork (9-1) at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug.
Janood (IRE) 2-1 (9-0) Raced wide alone early, joined standsside trio 4f out, tracked leading pair, ridden to lead 1f out, edged right and ran on, won at Newbury 7f 2yo lst stk (1) gs in Aug beating Slim Shadey (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 4 ran.
Pathfork (USA) 10-11fav (9-1) Always prominent, tracked leader in 2nd, led under 2f out, ridden and pressed 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug beating Glor Na Mara (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
Rudolf Valentino 25-1 (9-1) Led, driven along from halfway, headed under 2f out, soon weakened and dropped to 5th inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 6l behind Pathfork (9-1) at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug.
Samuel Morse (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Settled in rear, headway on inner into 5th 2f out, 4th under pressure 1f out, 3rd inside final furlong but no impression on principals, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Pathfork (9-1) at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug.
Zoffany (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Soon settled towards rear on stand's rail, got into clear and chased leaders in 4th over 1f out, soon 3rd, ran on well between to lead near finish, won at Curragh 6f 2yo Grp 1 (1) in Aug beating Glor Na Mara (9-1) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
