Listed winner ABINGDON was caught close home in the Lancashire Oaks at Haydock last month but Sir Michael Stoute’s filly may just have enough to edge this. She’s preferred to the former David O’Meara inmate Bateel, who won a Group 3 at Haydock for her new yard in June. The Juliet Rose is certainly good enough at this level but is making her seasonal debut. This is tougher than the Group 3 Kitesurf won at Chantilly on her penultimate start, though she’s still preferred to Traffic Jam and Thrones Game.
Traffic Jam (IRE) (8-11) 3rd of 9, 2l behind Smart Whip (9-1) at Vichy 1m 4f lst stks (1) gd in Jul.
Bateel (IRE) 2-1fav (9-0) Half fly leapt leaving stalls, held up towards rear, headway going well over 2f out, led 1f out, shaken up inside final furlong, readily, won at Haydock 1m 4f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Jun beating Dubka (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Abingdon (USA) 6-4fav (9-5) Tracked leader, effort over 2f out, led narrowly inside final 2f, soon ridden, headed final 100 yards, kept on same pace, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind The Black Princess (9-5) at Haydock 1m 4f Grp 2 fll (1) gf in Jul.
The Juliet Rose (FR) (8-7) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 stks gd in Oct beating Almela (9-1) by 3l, 6 ran.
Thrones Game (FR) (9-7) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f hcp gd in Jun beating Chef De Troupe (9-6) by 1 1/4l, 17 ran.
Kitesurf (9-1) 10th of 16, 10 1/2l behind Senga (9-1) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Jun.
