soon led and raced far side, pushed along from 2f out, soon attempted to assert, headed over 100yds out, soon no extra
close up and raced near side group, 3rd before halfway, pushed along under 2f out, kept on without troubling winner inside final furlong
chased leaders and raced far side, 5th before halfway, pushed along under 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders and raced far side, 6th before halfway, pushed along 2f out, no extra inside final furlong
chased leaders and raced near side group, 4th before halfway, switched left under 2f out and headway, led over 100yds out, quickly asserted and stayed on well
a little slow into stride, towards rear and raced near side group, pushed along over 2f out, soon headway in centre of track, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
close up and raced near side group, 2nd before halfway, pushed along under 2f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong
chased leaders and raced near side group, 7th before halfway, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression in rear, kept on without threatening inside final furlong
a little slow into stride, towards rear and raced far side, pushed along under 2f out, no impression over 1f out
UK raiders have won the last four and are well represented this time. El Astronaute came here for the first time last month and landed a premier handicap, the same day as SOLDIER'S CALL (NAP) ran a tremendous race in the King's Stand Stakes at Ascot behind two of the top sprinters around, Blue Point and Battash. A repeat of that would be good enough for Archie Watson's charge though fellow raider Garrus looked an improved sprinter when runner-up in a Sandown Group 3. Charlie Hills also runs Equilateral but he has a bit to find with the selection on Ascot running. Soffia has run her three times and won them all, the latest in a Group 3 so she's improving fast while the 2017 winner Caspian Prince is still capable of a big run despite his age.
Caspian Prince (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Quickly away, led, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, headed inside final 150 yards, no extra towards finish, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Copper Knight (9-1) at York 5f lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
El Astronaute (IRE) 7-1cfav (9-13) Soon disputed lead on near side, still travelling smoothly over 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, led inside final furlong and stayed on well, won at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun beating Manshood (8-4) by 1l, 16 ran.
Equilateral 20-1 (9-4) Dwelt in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 7th of 12, 6 1/4l behind Blue Point (9-4) at Ascot 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Rapid Reaction (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Prominent, pushed along and effort from over 2f out, kept on without matching front pair inside final furlong, 3rd of 16, 1 3/4l behind El Astronaute (9-13) at Curragh 5f hcp Good - Yielding in Jun.
Soffia 11-4 (9-6) Mid-division, progress to 2nd halfway, travelled well to lead narrowly over 2f out, kept on well final furlong, strongly pressed close home, all out, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jun beating Dan's Dream (9-6) by nk, 8 ran.
Garrus (IRE) 10-3 (8-12) Slowly into stride, raced in centre of course and soon well there, pushed along and headway halfway, went 2nd final 100 yards and closed, not reach winner, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Kurious (8-9) at Sandown 5f Grp 3 (1) gf in Jul.
Soldier's Call 16-1 (8-12) Overall leader, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 3/4l behind Blue Point (9-4) at Ascot 5f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
Fantasy (IRE) 16-1 (8-11) Chased leaders on near side, pushed along from 2f out and soon ridden, no impression and dropped to 7th inside final furlong, eased close home, 8th of 11, 8 1/4l behind El Astronaute (9-12) at Cork 5f lst stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Lethal Promise (IRE) 9-4fav (8-12) Prominent, soon led on far side, headed over 2f out, ridden and dropped to 4th 1f out, weakened final furlong, lost 4th close home, 5th of 8, 5 1/2l behind Soffia (9-6) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Jun.
Southern Horse (ARG) 14-1 (9-7) Soon tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, soon on terms, narrowly headed 1f out, kept on without matching principals inside final furlong, 4th of 12, 1 1/4l behind Speak In Colours (9-12) at Curragh 6f lst stks (1) gd in Jun.
