tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, led inside final furlong, headed close home
held up, ridden, headway over 1f out, stayed on, not troubled leaders
always towards rear, never dangerous
mid-division, ridden over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden, headway over 2f out, kept on final furlong
prominent, led after 1f, ridden over 2f out, headed, no extra inside final furlong
slowly into stride, soon in touch, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 1f out
in touch, ridden, headway 2f out, ran on to lead close home
towards rear, ridden, some headway 2f out, never nearer
tracked leaders, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out
Sahara Storm sets a decent standard but there are some interesting newcomers here and we side with Sir Michael Stoute's debutant Shalaya, who gets the verdict over Damsel. The last mentioned is a half-sister to several winners including the useful Silence Reigns and is not discounted lightly but John Gosden does not have a great strike-rate with his first time out juveniles. Stablemate Shady Reflection ran with credit on her debut at Salisbury and is another to consider. John Dunlop's Alaloof and the Barry Hills-trained Cause Celebre are both probably capable of better than they showed on their racecourse debuts, while Sahara Storm has twice filled third place in decent maidens at Newbury and Newmarket. She rates the main danger to Shalaya, who gets the vote. Sir Michael Stoute's filly is bred to be useful being a daughter of Marju and from the same family as Derby winner Shahrastani. She may be good enough to make a winning debut.