held up in last pair, headway well over 1f out, ridden and every chance entering final furing, no extra final 100 yards
tracked leaders, went 2nd 2f out, soon ridden, kept on same pace final furlong
held up in touch, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
tracked leader, ridden 3f out, one pace final 2f
led, ridden over 2f out, headed entering final furlong, kept on same pace
held up in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, led entering final furlong, ran on strongly final 100 yards, ridden out
tracked leaders, ridden well over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, eased final furlong
Cesare can gain a second Group 2 victory at the expense of Echelon, Blue Ksar and Blythe Knight. Cesare looks well up to defying a penalty for his success in the Sony Summer Mile at Ascot where Jamie Spencer kept his cool to weave through and in end win comfortably. Last year's Royal Hunt Cup hero has proved that he has what it takes to mix it at this level, and he is a proven mile performer, six of his eight wins coming over the trip. There are doubts about his main rivals, Blue Ksar in particular with the ground drying up all the time, the feeling being that he will be outpaced when it matters. Sir Michael Stoute loves to win this event, and indeed has captured the prize four times in the past ten years, so Echelon will be primed to emulate her half-sister Chic, the dual 2004-2005 heroine. Below par behind the admittedly top-class Peeping Fawn at The Curragh, she has been given a rest, and by all accounts has showed some sparkle at home. Blythe Knight has been a revelation since joining John Quinn, and beat Blue Ksar on merit in an Epsom Group 3, so is preferred to the likes of Dunelight and Charlie Cool who have it to do with the selection on Ascot form. With Spencer on board again, Cesare is the one that they all have to beat.
Cesare 11-4 (9-1) Held up, smooth headway 2f out, hampered and switched left over 1f out, driven and quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, won at Ascot 1m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul beating Royal Oath (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Blue Ksar (FR) Evensfav (9-5) Tracked leader, led over 1f out, soon shaken up, ran on well, won at Pontefract 1m lst stk (1) gs in Jul beating Contentious (8-2) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Blythe Knight (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Tracked leading pair, squeezed through to lead inside final 2f, driven, strongly pressed, in command final 100 yards, stayed on gamely, won at Epsom 1m 1f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun beating Blue Ksar (9-4) by 1l, 5 ran.
Charlie Cool 25-1 (9-1) Held up, ridden over 2f out, soon beaten, 8th of 9, 11l behind Cesare (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul.
Dunelight (IRE) 12-1 (9-2) Led, pushed 2 lengths clear over 1f out, driven, headed final 100 yards, no impression, lost 2nd final 75 yards, 3rd of 13, 2l behind Tariq (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
Echelon 12-1 (9-9) Held up in 7th, ridden and no impression straight, moderate 6th when eased final furlong, 6th of 9, 16l behind Peeping Fawn (8-11) at Curragh 1m 2f fll stks Grp 1 (1) sft in Jun.
Finicius (USA) 33-1 (8-10) Held up in rear, headway on outside over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never nearer, 6th of 13, 4l behind Tariq (8-9) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 (1) gd in Jul.
Selinka 6-1 (8-9) Towards rear, ridden along 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong to take 4th close home, 4th of 16, 2 1/2l behind Wake Up Maggie (9-4) at Goodwood 7f fll stk Grp 3 (1) gf.
