tracked leaders, quickened to lead approaching final furlong, ran on
led, ridden and headed over 2f out, kept on towards finish
in touch in rear, broke down over 2f out, soon pulled up
in touch, effort entering final 2f, ridden and stayed on one pace
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed approaching final furlong, no extra inside final furlong
Luca Cumani scored with subsequent Royal Ascot winner Afsare a year ago and is attempting to tread the same path with Alkimos, an impressive maiden winner at Windsor and obviously on the upgrade. Godolphin run both Gusting, a very easy debut winner at Newcastle, and Midsummer Fair, who took his place in the French 2000 Guineas after a first-time success at Newmarket. Jockey bookings suggest the latter is the better fancied but this can go to HAPPY TODAY, just touched off by Dordogne is a Listed race at HQ before being swamped like everything else by Frankel in the Guineas. Buthelezi has plenty of talent but looked a very tricky ride when runner-up to Lajooj at Newmarket and isn't one to have faith in.
Alkimos (IRE) 4-6fav (8-13) Pushed right and rider lost iron briefly start, headway to track leader 8f out until over 6f out, went 2nd again over 2f out, challenged and upsides 2f out, advantage over 1f out, ridden and stayed on inside final furlong, won at Windsor 1m 2f mdn auc stks (5) gd in May beating Moment of Time (8-10) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Buthelezi (USA) 7-2 (9-0) Raced far side, led, hung badly left from 3f out to join main group on stands' side and in lead that side approaching 2f out, driven and stayed on inside final furlong, held and no impression on winner far side, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Laajooj (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 2f Listed stks 3yo (1) gd in May.
Gusting 10-1 (9-3) In rear, good headway from over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ran on strongly, won at Newcastle 1m 2f 3yo mdn aut (5) gf in May beating Lady Chloe (8-12) by 6l, 10 ran.
Maali (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, closing when hampered and stumbled 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ran on, just held, unlucky, 2nd of 14, hd behind Mashaaref (9-3) at Nottingham 1m 3yo mdn (5) gf in May.
Midsummer Fair (USA) 16-1 (9-2) last of 14, 17l behind Tin Horse (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in May.
Happy Today (USA) 100-1 (9-0) In rear, ridden 3f out, kept on, never near leaders, 6th of 13, 23l behind Frankel (9-0) at Newmarket 1m 3yo Grp 1 (1) gf in Apr.
