led, clear from before halfway, pushed along straight, reduced lead from over 1f out, soon headed and dropped to last, no extra and eased closing stages
in rear, pushed along 2f out, closed from over 1f out, challenged on inner inside final furlong, stayed on well to lead near line
chased leaders in 3rd, a little keen, pushed along before straight, closed from over 1f out, soon led and strongly pressed, stayed on well, headed near line
chased leader in 2nd, pushed along approaching straight, closed from over 1f out, every chance final furlong, kept on without quite matching winner
Dermot Weld has won the last two and also scored with Famous Name in 2008 but it hasn't been the best of trials for the classic. True Solitaire looks the pick of his two entries this time after his narrow defeat by Port Douglas in a Group 2 at the Curragh in September though he'd earlier been beaten just over a length by JOHANNES VERMEER over this course and distance. The latter, runner-up in the Racing Post Trophy, ended the campaign with a victory in the Group 1 Criterium International at Saint-Cloud for which he's penalised and his odds for Newmarket will contract if he wins this in style. Stenographer has a fitness advantage having landed a maiden at the Curragh last month and though that was over 6f the $450,000 yearling should be even better suited by this trip. Black Sea is the selection's stable companion and he'll need to improve on his third place in a Group 3 on this track while A Likely Story was beaten in a Limerick maiden on Thursday.
A Likely Story (IRE) Evensfav (9-5) Tracked leaders, 3rd halfway, ridden to lead over 1f out, under pressure and headed over 100 yards out, no impression on winner, 2nd of 8, 2 1/4l behind Colonel Maximus (9-5) at Limerick 7f mdn hvy in Apr.
Black Sea (IRE) 7-4 (9-3) Tracked leaders, took keen hold and soon close up on outer, on terms from before halfway, pushed along in 2nd approaching straight, challenged and every chance from 2f out until one pace in 3rd from under 1f out, 3rd of 7, 4l behind Blue De Vega (9-3) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Stenographer (USA) 3-1 (9-5) Prominent, 3rd halfway, pushed along 2f out and no impression 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong to lead close home, won at Curragh 6f mdn Yielding - Soft in Mar beating Paddy Power (9-5) by 1/2l, 18 ran.
True Solitaire (IRE) 9-4jfav (9-3) Led briefly early, soon chased leader in 2nd, ridden to lead 2f out, kept on under pressure, disputed inside final furlong, headed at line, 2nd of 9, shd behind Port Douglas (9-3) at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep.
Johannes Vermeer (IRE) 5-2 (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 7f Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in Nov beating Stormy Antarctic (8-13) by hd, 8 ran.
