led, never really travelling, hung left 6f out, driven along and headed 2f out, weakened final furlong
soon pressing leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders in 4th, pushed along on inner 3f out, stayed on under pressure into 2nd inside final furlong, no impression on winner
held up last, niggled along 6f out, headway on wide outside over 1f out, stayed on into 3rd final furlong
held up in 5th, headway and switched left 2f out, led approaching final 1f, ridden and stayed on well (hand timed)
chased leading pair, pushed along 3f out, driven along over 1f out, weakened
A trappy race made no easier by a lack of declarations and MABUYA can make course experience count against Plymouth Rock and State Banquet. The colt endured a rough run at the course in August but was not persevered with once beaten. The step back up in trip should not prove to be a problem and the fast going should be fine. Plymouth Rock won his debut at Windsor but was turned over at short odds when attempting a follow up in a handicap. State Banquet is tried again in cheekpieces. He does not appear the strongest of finishers. Muraweg held every chance in a classified stakes before flattening out close home. Blinkers are tried for the first time. Fanditha and Gilded Age are not without chances though both will need to show improvement upon their most recent racecourse outings. Mabuya is the tentative vote in a race where cases can be made for all of the participants.
State Banquet (USA) 3-1 (9-0) Mostly raced in 3rd, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 7l behind Lethal Glaze (9-7) at Kempton 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) pol in Aug.
Muraweg (IRE) 4-1 (8-11) Held up in rear, headway on wide outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to reach leaders, 5th of 11, 3 1/2l behind Dangerous Midge (8-11) at Doncaster 1m 2f stks 0-85 (3) gf.
Plymouth Rock (IRE) 4-7fav (9-6) Dwelt, tracked leading pair, stumbled and rider lost iron briefly 10f out, went 2nd 8f out, ridden and unable to quicken when tempo raised 3f out, switched left over 2f out, driven over 1f out, soon no impression on front pair, 3rd of 4, 2l behind History Lesson (9-7) at Windsor 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gd in Jul.
Mabuya (UAE) 3-1fav (9-5) Mid-division, headway when hampered over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 8th of 13, 8l behind Kaolak (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf in Aug.
Fanditha (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Close up in 5th, driven along on outside and outpaced over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong to press for 2nd, no chance with winner, 3rd of 8, 1 3/4l behind My Verse (8-8) at Sandown 1m 3yo fll hcp 0-85 (4) sft.
Gilded Age 6-1 (9-1) Soon led, headed over 2f out, ridden and lost place 1f out, no extra final furlong, 5th of 9, 6l behind Spirit of Adjisa (9-10) at Epsom Downs 1m 4f hcp 0-75 (5) gs.
