Testing ground is a worry for Naval Crown, who finished in front of Battleground, Wembley and Thunder Moon when fourth in the 2000 Guineas but was beaten in the Jersey Stakes at Ascot last time. The latter trio have yet to match the best of last year’s form while compatriot Law Of Indices and Archie Watson’s Mehmento have plenty to prove at this level. The same can be said of Andre Fabre’s duo Erasmo and Listed winner Midtown with Mickael Barzalona partnering the latter while Valloria also steps up in class for a powerful yard. But COLOSSEO belied odds of 80/1 when finishing runner-up in the French 2000 Guineas having led entering the final furlong and Gianluca Bietolini’s colt is taken to go one better over this shorter trip.
Fast Raaj (FR) 28-1 (9-4) Raced centre and keen, held up and always towards rear, never a factor, 17th of 18, 33 3/4l behind Creative Force (9-1) at Ascot 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Colosseo (USA) (9-2) 2nd of 12, 1 3/4l behind St Mark's Basilica (9-2) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in May.
Naval Crown 5-1jfav (9-1) Overall leader near side, ridden over 1f out, ran on well until headed and no extra final 110 yards, 2nd of 18, 1 1/4l behind Creative Force (9-1) at Ascot 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Erasmo (8-11) won at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Jun beating Best Lightning (8-11) by shd, 7 ran.
Midtown (8-12) won at Chantilly 7f lst stks hvy in Nov beating Best Lightning (8-12) by 2l, 8 ran.
Mehmento (IRE) 22-1 (9-1) Chased leader near side until over 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, weakened quickly soon after, 13th of 18, 14 1/2l behind Creative Force (9-1) at Ascot 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Laws Of Indices (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 15, at Ascot 6f Grp 1 (1) hvy in Jun.
Battleground (USA) 11-1 (9-0) In touch, headway 2f out, ridden and kept on one pace final furlong, 3rd of 13, 4 1/2l behind Poetic Flare (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Wembley (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slow into stride, held up, pushed along 2f out, never a factor, 9th of 13, 11 3/4l behind Poetic Flare (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Thunder Moon (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out, never a factor, 7th of 13, 10l behind Poetic Flare (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Best Lightning (FR) (8-11) 2nd of 7, shd behind Erasmo (8-11) at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Jun.
Valloria (FR) (8-12) won at ParisLongchamp 1m lst stks gd in Jun beating Dolia (8-12) by 3/4l, 8 ran.
Reina Madre (IRE) (8-13) 13th of 14, 17 3/4l behind Coeursamba (8-13) at ParisLongchamp 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in May.