A cracking renewal of this Group 1 sprint. Norfolk Stakes winner A’Ali followed that Ascot success with a victory over a slightly shorter trip here last month and Queen Mary winner Raffle Prize has the beating of Aroha on collateral form having picked up another Group 2 contest at Newmarket last time. Golden Horde arrives on the back of victory in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, where he beat Royal Dornoch, but he’d earlier finished behind today’s other Ballydoyle runner Arizona when the latter landed the Coventry Stakes at Ascot. Aidan O’Brien’s colt also beat Well Of Wisdom on that occasion and the latter was subsequently beaten a similar distance by EARTHLIGHT in a Group 3 contest over track and trip. That puts Andre Fabre’s unbeaten Godolphin colt right in the mix and he’s taken to win this for France for the first time since 2011. Devil is thrown in at the deep end having won a maiden here last month.
A'Ali (IRE) (9-2) won at Deauville 5f Grp 2 stks gs in Jul beating My Love's Passion (8-12) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Golden Horde (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Prominent, pushed along to lead approaching final furlong, ridden and found extra when pressed towards finish, won at Goodwood 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Threat (9-0) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Earthlight (IRE) (8-13) won at Deauville 6f Grp 3 stks gd in Jul beating Well Of Wisdom (8-13) by 4l, 5 ran.
Royal Dornoch (IRE) 25-1 (9-0) Dwelt raced wide in rear, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, nearest finish, 3rd of 13, 3 3/4l behind Golden Horde (9-0) at Goodwood 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Arizona (IRE) 15-8fav (9-1) In touch centre, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead towards finish, won at Ascot 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jun beating Threat (9-1) by 1/2l, 17 ran.
Devil (IRE) (9-2) won at Deauville 6f stks sft in Jul beating Juliusjuliusson (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Raffle Prize (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Made all, ridden over 1f out, held on well, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 2 fll stks (1) gf in Jul beating Daahyeh (9-0) by 1 3/4l, 7 ran.
Aroha (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed final 100 yards, kept on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Under The Stars (9-0) at Ascot 6f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gs in Jul.
