chased leaders, ridden in 3rd 2f out, 4th 1f out, kept on without threatening leaders in 3rd inside final furlong
soon led, ridden and strongly pressed 2f out, headed 1 1/2f out, 2nd 1f out, no impression on leaders final furlong
in rear, took keen hold, pushed along in 6th 2f out, soon ridden, 6th 1f out, kept on without threatening in 4th close home
rear of mid-division, ridden in 7th 2f out, no impression
chased leaders in 5th early, close 4th at halfway, headway into 2nd and pushed along 2f out, led 1 1/2f out, soon ridden, strongly pressed and edged left inside final furlong, stayed on well close home
in rear, ridden in last 2f out, no impression
chased leaders in 4th early, mid-division at halfway, pushed along in 5th 2 1/2f out, headway into 3rd and ridden 1f out, soon 2nd, strongly pressed winner and edged left inside final furlong, kept on same pace close home
broke well, soon raced in 2nd, 4th and short of room on inner 2f out, pushed along over 1f out, no impression on leaders under 1f out, briefly short of room on inner inside final furlong, eased close home
Aidan O'Brien has won this with Magical and Minding in recent years but whether Santa Barbara can match their exploits is debatable. A close fourth in the 1000 Guineas at Newmarket, she started favourite for the Oaks but failed to stay behind runaway winner Snowfall though she had every chance at this trip. Shale had a superb first campaign and twice had Oodnadatta behind but has failed to fire in two starts this season though was totally unsuited by heavy ground at Ascot. The latter's stablemate Silence Please doesn't look up to this level though another from the yard, CAYENNE PEPPER, certainly does having chased home Magical a year ago before runner-up in the Oaks here. She had Thundering Nights well beaten in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes here in September and can confirm the form. Willie McCreery would like some rain for supplemented entries Epona Plays and Insinuendo with preference for the former, a couple of lengths behind Thundering Nights in a Group 3 here last August.
Cayenne Pepper (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Disputed briefly, soon chased leaders, 4th halfway, ridden over 2f out, under pressure in 3rd 1 1/2f out, no extra in 4th 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Helvic Dream (9-5) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) Soft - Heavy in May.
Epona Plays (IRE) 9-2 (9-2) Prominent and led after 1f, pushed along 2f out, ridden and 2 lengths clear 1f out, driven out and stayed on well inside final furlong, won at Curragh 1m Grp 2 fll stks (1) Soft - Heavy in May beating Soul Search (9-2) by 4l, 6 ran.
Insinuendo (IRE) 15-2 (9-11) Ran freely towards rear early, 6th to clear leader halfway, took closer order 3f out, came wide entering straight, closed 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead under 1f out, kept on well, won at Naas 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding - Soft in May beating Thunder Kiss (9-11) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Silence Please (IRE) 11-2 (9-11) Tracked leader on inner, 3rd halfway, switched left 3f out and pushed along 2f out, soon ridden and 2nd 1f out, kept on, no impression on winner closing stages, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Thunder Kiss (9-11) at Cork 1m 4f Grp 3 fll stks (1) Yielding in Jun.
Thundering Nights (IRE) 17-4 (8-8) 2-3w,4w1/4,mvd out3/16, 2nd of 9, shd behind Mean Mary (8-10) at Belmont Park 1m 2f fll stks fm in Jun.
Oodnadatta (IRE) 35-1 (8-10) Belatedly, 9th of 14, 5 1/2l behind Aunt Pearl (8-10) at Keeneland 1m fll gd in Nov.
Santa Barbara (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Steadied start, held up last, headway between horses over 2f out, ridden and no impression inside final 2f, weakened final furlong, 5th of 14, 21 3/4l behind Snowfall (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gs in Jun.
Shale (IRE) 17-2 (9-0) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong, 10th of 11, 13 1/4l behind Alcohol Free (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) hvy in Jun.
