held up in rear, closer halfway, ridden early straight and no impression in 6th under 2f out, eased final furlong
chased leader, closer in 6th halfway, ridden to go 3rd 1 1/2f out, no impression final furlong, kept on one pace
chased leader, 3rd halfway, 2nd 3f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, under pressure and edged left inside final furlong, kept on
chased leader, 4th 4f out, no extra early straight and eased over 1f out
led, headed approaching straight, soon no extra, weakened, tailed off
dwelt, towards rear, closer in 7th halfway, progress early straight, under pressure and kept on one pace in 4th final furlong
chased leader, 5th 4f out, ridden in 3rd early straight, no impression in 5th 1f out, no extra
chased leader, 2nd halfway, led approaching straight, ridden straight and headed over 1f out, kept on under pressure inside final furlong
Aidan O'Brien won this with classy three-year-olds Master Craftsman and Declaration Of War but neither Michaelmas, who doesn't quite have the form, nor Indian Maharaja, look good enough. The latter finished 13 lengths behind stablemate Afonso De Sousa over this track and trip a week ago. The latter was returning from a long break and was very impressive though he was just under a length behind PAENE MAGNUS over the track and trip last October when Jim Bolger's charge was conceding 5lb. He's another who has had little racing this season and though beaten in the race a year ago is taken to go one better. Marco Botti won this with the high-class Gitano Hernando so the 2012 Secretariat Stakes winner Bayrir, who has been racing in Australia, has to be of interest on only his third start for the yard. Cat O'Mountain also arrives from Newmarket and he'll be better for his recent run at Kempton, his first since an excellent campaign at Meydan last winter. The lightly-raced Prince Of All had Magnolia Beach in second place here in April but both will need to improve in a very interesting contest.
Afonso De Sousa (USA) 4-5fav (9-6) In rear, switched right early straight, closed and not much room 2f out, switched right again to outer from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, soon clear, stayed on well, easily, won at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo stks pol in Sep beating Hold The Line (9-6) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Bayrir (FR) 28-1 (9-8) Held up in last, switched right and headway over 1f out, pressing for 2nd inside final furlong, stayed on, no impression on winner, 3rd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Clon Brulee (9-2) at Doncaster 1m 2f cond stks (2) gs in Sep.
Cat O'Mountain (USA) 3-1 (9-5) Tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 9l behind Prince Bishop (9-12) at Kempton 1m 4f Group 3 stks (3yo+) (1) pol in Sep.
Paene Magnus (IRE) 6-1 (9-12) Prominent, soon 3rd, under pressure 2f out, challenged final furlong, not match winner and kept on same pace final 100yds, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Giovanni Boldini (9-2) at Curragh 1m Listed stks (1) gf in Jun.
Indian Maharaja (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Dwelt and edged slightly right out of stalls, soon raced in 3rd and took keen hold, no impression from over 1f out, eased closing stages, 6th of 7, 13l behind Afonso De Sousa (9-6) at Dundalk 1m 3f 3yo stks pol in Sep.
Magnolia Beach (IRE) 7-2 (9-1) Slowly into stride, soon raced in 3rd, pushed along from 2f out, no impression in last 1 1/2f out, no extra final furlong, last of 4, 8l behind Hall Of Mirrors (9-9) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in Aug.
Michaelmas (USA) 25-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, 6th halfway, no extra over 1f out, last of 8, 9l behind Bow Creek (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 (1) gf in Sep.
Prince Of All 13-2 (9-0) Tracked leader, 2nd halfway, pushed along and no impression on winner under 2f out, moderate 2nd 1f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 8l behind Free Eagle (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep.
