Last year’s winner Qemah won the Group 2 Duke Of Cambridge at Ascot last month with Usherette a length behind in third. The latter didn’t get the best of runs on that occasion and may well reverse running today but it could pay to take a chance on the returning PERSUASIVE. She hasn’t raced since runner-up in last year’s Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown but finished ahead of Qemah on that occasion so has decent claims on that form. Roly Poly won the Falmouth at Newmarket earlier this month when third-placed Arabian Hope proved she was up to this level and both are preferred to Realtra, who won a Group 3 in Ireland last time.
Qemah (IRE) 5-2fav (9-0) Raced near side, held up towards rear and took keen hold, good headway on outside of group over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, 2nd 2f out, led 1f out, ridden and ran on, won at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun beating Aljazzi (9-0) by 3/4l, 14 ran.
Persuasive (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd 2f out, pushed along and progress to lead over 1f out, ridden and headed 150 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Alice Springs (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 stks (1) Yielding in Sep.
Usherette (IRE) 11-4 (9-0) Raced near side, took keen hold, soon steadied rear, good headway when on clear run and switched right over 1f out, ran on strongly inside final furlong, no reach 1st 2, 3rd of 14, 1l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Furia Cruzada (CHI) 66-1 (9-3) Chased far side leader until 2f out, led group again inside final furlong, no chance with near side, 10th of 14, 7 1/4l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Realtra (IRE) 3-1 (9-8) Tracked leaders, 3rd approaching straight, pushed along over 2f out on inner, led inside final furlong and stayed on well, won at Fairyhouse 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gd in Jul beating Golden Stunner (9-8) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Siyoushake (IRE) (8-13) 3rd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Taareef (9-5) at Chantilly 1m Grp 3 stks gd in Jun.
Arabian Hope (USA) 13-2 (8-12) Tracked leaders, pushed along and over 2f out, ridden and unable to quicken over 1f out, stayed on again in 3rd inside final furlong, closed on 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Roly Poly (8-12) at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Via Ravenna (IRE) (8-9) 4th of 7, 3l behind Rosa Imperial (8-11) at Maisons-Laffitte 6f Grp 3 gd in Jun.
Roly Poly (USA) 6-4fav (8-12) Made all on rail, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and stayed on strongly inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Jul beating Wuheida (8-12) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Dame Du Roi (IRE) (8-11) 2nd of 14, 3/4l behind Aiming For Rio (9-2) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f lst stks sft in Jul.
