Three-year-olds do well in this Group One but older mares also have a decent record with the likes of Goldikova, Moonlight Cloud and Esoterique having been successful in recent years. The last-named is back for more but she hasn't quite looked the force of old this summer. Ervedya finished behind Lightning Spear in the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, the latter managing only sixth next time in the Sussex Stakes, behind Galileo Gold and RIBCHESTER. Hugo Palmer's 2000 Guineas winner has twice got the better of the Godolphin colt now but the latter met some trouble in-running at Goodwood and was only a short-head behind his old rival at the line. He's still improving and, granted a clear passage, can finally win a Group One this afternoon. Vadamos had a nice confidence-booster at Maisons-Laffitte and looks best of the rest ahead of Jean Prat second and third, Stormy Antarctic and Spectre.
Grand Vintage (FR) (8-13) 5th of 10, 2 1/4l behind A Shin Erwin (8-13) at Maisons-Laffitte 1m stks gs in May.
Vadamos (FR) (9-7) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m Grp 3 stks gd in Jul beating Mr. Owen (9-1) by 3l, 5 ran.
Arod (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Close up, weakened 2f out, soon eased, last of 18, 26 1/4l behind Limato (9-6) at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Lightning Spear 14-1 (9-8) Held up, in rear, ridden on outside over 1f out, kept on in inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 6th of 10, 4 1/4l behind The Gurkha (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Ervedya (FR) 9-2jfav (8-11) Held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on, nearest finish, 5th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Tepin (8-11) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Esoterique (IRE) (9-3) 4th of 11, 3 3/4l behind Qemah (8-9) at Deauville 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Jul.
Galileo Gold 9-4 (9-0) Led, ridden and strongly pressed inside final furlong, kept on gamely but headed final 75 yards, 2nd of 10, nk behind The Gurkha (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Ribchester (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders on inside, not clear run and switched left off rail 2f out, ridden over 1f out, went 3rd inside final furlong, stayed on strongly and closed on leading duo in closing stages, just held, 3rd of 10, 1/4l behind The Gurkha (9-0) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Dicton (9-2) 3rd of 17, 3 1/4l behind Almanzor (9-2) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Jun.
Stormy Antarctic (9-2) 2nd of 9, 2l behind Zelzal (9-2) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Jul.
Spectre (FR) (8-12) 3rd of 9, 2 1/4l behind Zelzal (9-2) at Chantilly 1m Grp 1 stks gd in Jul.
