tracked leaders on inside, driven and outpaced over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on to chase leading pair inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
led, driven over 3f out, headed over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, no impression
tracked leaders, shaken up and headway to lead over 2f out, 3 length clear over 1f out, ridden and edged left inside final furlong, rallied when headed briefly final 100 yards, kept on, edged left near finish
tracked leader, smooth headway to challenge over 2f out, ridden and 3 lengths down over 1f out, switched left inside final furlong, ran on to lead briefly final 100 yards, no extra when bumped near finish
held up in 5th, driven and effort to chase leading pair over 1f out until inside final furlong, ridden and kept on same pace
held up behind, pushed along over 3f out, ridden and kept on under pressure final 2f, never troubled leaders
steadied start, held up in rear, ridden and no headway over 2f out, never able to challenge
MIDDAY can defy the stats to win the race for the second year running ahead of French challengers Rosanara and Stacelita. Henry Cecil's filly confirmed herself as a filly of the highest order when taking the 2009 renewal, with Barshiba five lengths back in fourth, before going on to win the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf at Santa Anita. She returned this term with a fine second to Sariska in May, when carrying a penalty and finding the ground a shade quick and is taken to give the older brigade their fourth win in this race in the last decade. With the three-year-old allowance Rosanara may prove pick of the rest. She looked potentially top-class when winning the Prix Marcel Boussac as a juvenile and, while she hasn't won since, efforts this term suggest she's trained on. Last time out she took second to a potential Arc candidate on ground perhaps too soft and her previous fourth behind Special Duty reads well enough to give her the forecast vote. Stacelita is officially the best horse in the race with a rating of 122 and her only two defeats came behind Goldikova and Sea The Stars, although she was well beaten on both occasions. She's taken on due to her clear preference for soft ground and concerns about Goodwood's undulations. Strawberrydacquiri represents a yard whose runners haven't all been performing to their best but if she's not affected by that the four-year-old could contend, with this step up in trip likely to suit. Antara is held by her on Royal Ascot form but her most impressive performance to date came at this trip, Contredanse won an average renewal of the Group Two Italian Oaks last time and that form has been let down by the second while Barshiba is a smashing mare but just a shade short of this class. Perhaps not the strongest Group One we've seen this year but a fascinating one, taken to go to Midday.
Antara (GER) 7-2fav (8-12) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, ridden and headway to 3rd over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, not pace of leading duo, 3rd of 10, 3 1/2l behind Strawberrydaiquiri (8-12) at Royal Ascot 1m fll Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Jun.
Barshiba (IRE) 7-2 (9-5) Took keen hold, headway to lead 10f out, ridden over 2f out, edegd left over 1f out, ran on gamely, edged right close home, won at Haydock 1m 4f Grp 2 flls (1) gf beating Polly's Mark (9-5) by 3/4l, 10 ran.
Midday 15-8 (9-3) Held up in 4th and close enough, went 3rd halfway, pushed along over 4f out, no impression 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 4, 1 3/4l behind Sariska (8-12) at York 1m 2f fll Grp 2 stks (1) gf in May.
Stacelita (FR) 8-13fav (9-3) won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gs in Jun beating Court Canibal (8-11) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Strawberrydaiquiri 6-1 (9-5) With leader until short of room 3f out, chased leader after until ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, 4th of 8, 4l behind Music Show (8-10) at Newmarket 1m flls Grp 1 (1) gf.
Contredanse (IRE) (8-11) won at San Siro(ITY) 1m 3f 3yo fll Grp 2 (1) gd in May beating Middle Club (8-11) by shd, 12 ran.
Rosanara (FR) 4-1 (8-13) 2nd of 9, 1 1/2l behind Sarafina (8-13) at Chantilly(FR) 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) sft in Jun.
