led for 2f, chased leader, led again 2f out, hung left inside final furlong, soon headed kept on
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, headway well over 1f out, one pace
held up, ridden over 2f out, never on terms
held up, ridden over 2f out, headway, switched right over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders, ridden over 1f out, kept on to lead well inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon tracking leaders, led after 2f, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
Al Qasi steps up to this trip for the first time but whilst he has the pace he also shapes as if this trip will suit; therefore he gets the vote ahead of Wake Up Maggie and Arabian Gleam. The selection has proven himself adept on various ground conditions and now a winner of half of his ten starts, Peter Chapple-Hyam's charge scored in a Group Three at the Curragh when last seen and now aims to take it up a notch in this Group Two. Wake Up Maggie is consistent and ran out a ready winner at Goodwood two starts back. She is suited by quick ground and with more improvement to come, George Baker is expected to get another good tune out of her. Captain Marvelous and Arabian Gleam both get their weight-for-age allowance and each warrants respect however the former needs to come on significantly for his recent reappearance. Arabian Gleam has run two fair races behind Tariq this season and given that he had a troubled passage on each of those occasions, he can be rated better than the bare form. Duff is an interesting contender having won at York at the Ebor meeting. He stays further so if there is a real end-to-end gallop then he should go close. Fellow Irish raider King Jock and Mac Love are two more to consider and the market may well help in regard to their chances, however Al Qasi is the one we return to for the winner.
Duff (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Made all, ridden over 2f out, driven, battled on gamely final furlong, won at York 7f lst stk (1) gd in Aug beating Advanced (9-0) by a nk, 14 ran.
King Jock (USA) 16-1 (9-1) Raced in 2nd, led over 2f out, ridden and ran on 2f out, headed close home, 2nd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Sabana Perdida (8-11) at Longchamp 7f Grp 3 (1).
Mac Love 14-1 (8-13) Disputed 3rd, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, 4th of 10, 3/4l behind Lovelace (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 (1) gf.
Wake Up Maggie (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Towards rear, headway over 1f out, every chance entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 1 1/2l behind Red Evie (9-4) at Newbury 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Aug.
Arabian Gleam 12-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, racing awkwardly when not much room from over 2f out, kept on final furlong, no danger, 5th of 13, 2 1/2l behind Tariq (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
Captain Marvelous (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Moved poorly throughout, always last, ridden 3f out, no response, eased when beaten final furlong, last of 6, 31l behind Major Cadeaux (9-0) at Newbury 7f 3yo Grp 3 (1) gf in Apr.
Al Qasi (IRE) 9-4 (9-5) Tracked leaders, 5th halfway, 3rd and headway 1 1/2f out, 2nd and challenged final furlong, led 100 yards from finish, stayed on well, won at Curragh 6f Grp 3 (1) gs in Aug beating Evening Time (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 7 ran.
