held up 5th, driven 1 1/2f out, progress to 4th over 1f out, headway to 3rd final 150 yards, soon ridden, kept on, not trouble leaders
rear, 6th halfway,detached over 2f out, ridden 1 1/2f out, no headway, kept on one pace final furlong
raced 3rd, slightly hampered after 1 1/2f, good headway on inner to lead under 2f out, ridden over 1f out, under pressure and headed final 100 yards, kept on
soon led, driven entering straight, under pressure and headed under 2f out, soon ridden in 3rd, weakened to 5th over 1f out, eased under 1f out
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden 1 1/2f out, 3rd 1f out, dropped to 4th final 150 yards, kept on same pace
settled 4th, driven 2f out, ridden and headway to 2nd 1f out, stayed on well to lead narrowly final 100 yards, kept on best
Aidan O'Brien has won this for the past three years and Dermot Weld the previous four. The former is represented by BONDI BEACH, who ran so well when sixth in last year's Melbourne Cup. He's already won twice at this level, for which he's penalised, and can defy the extra. Shogun is another Ballydoyle entry and he's no forlorn hope as, after seeing the back of Harzand at Epsom and the Curragh, he ran well when third in last week's Gordon Stakes at Goodwood. Weld has entered the very lightly-raced Almela, who hasn't run since runner-up in a Listed contest at Naas in October. Like the selection she's in the Irish St Leger so expect a big run despite her long absence. Stellar Mass is very much a slow burner who ran a superb race when third in the Irish Derby before beating older horses in a Down Royal Listed contest last month.
Bondi Beach (IRE) 1-9fav (9-6) Held up 3rd, pushed along over 2f out, reminder to close over 1f out, led narrowly 1f out, kept on best, won at Navan 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in May beating Toe The Line (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 3 ran.
Agnes Stewart (IRE) 16-1 (9-6) Chased leader in 2nd, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, dropped behind inside final furlong, last of 5, 9 3/4l behind Sir Isaac Newton (9-9) at Curragh 1m 2f Grp 3 stks gd in Jun.
Almela (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Tracked leader in 2nd, raced wide into straight, ridden to lead 2f out and soon pressed, headed over 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Endless Time (9-0) at Naas 1m 4f lst fll stks (1) gf in Oct.
Lustrous Light (IRE) 6-5 (9-7) Made all, pushed along straight, ridden from 2f out, stayed on best from 1f out, won at Fairyhouse 1m 4f Good - Yielding in Jul beating Cook Islands (9-10) by 2 1/2l, 3 ran.
Shogun (IRE) 13-2 (9-1) Tracked leaders on inside, pushed along over 4f out, unable to quicken when hung right inside final 2f, rallied edging right over 1f out, went 3rd towards finish, never going pace to challenge, 3rd of 9, 2l behind Ulysses (9-1) at Goodwood 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Jul.
Stellar Mass (IRE) 4-9fav (8-11) Chased leaders, 3rd halfway, progress in 2nd over 2f out, led under 2f out and 1 length lead 1f out, ridden and kept on inside final furlong, won at Down Royal 1m 6f lst (1) gd in Jul beating Benkei (9-9) by 1 1/4l, 4 ran.
