slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, some headway to chase leaders and no impression over 1f out, one pace
soon led, pushed along into straight, joined 2f out, soon headed, no extra and one pace inside final furlong
waited with behind leaders, pushed along before straight, no impression under 2f out, one pace
raced in 2nd, pushed along before straight, on terms 2f out, soon led, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner, just held on for 2nd
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, wandered slightly and gained narrow lead inside final furlong, stayed on well
waited with behind leaders, closed travelling smoothly straight, pushed along from 1 1/2f out and headway, kept on well closing stages, just failed for 2nd
tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, no impression over 1f out, soon weakened
LAURENS won this last year, the fourth successive three-year-old to win the race. A year on, she's as good as ever with another Group 1 to her credit and just failed to concede 7lb to the year younger Shine So Bright in the Sky Bet City Of York. I Can Fly also won over the track and trip a year ago, landing the Group 2 Boomerang Stakes in very easy fashion. She's been competing at a very high level all year though Ryan Moore chooses Hermosa over her and two other entries from Ballydoyle. His mount, the dual 1000 Guineas winner, couldn't quite hold off the French-trained Watch Me in the Coronation Stakes and then got into a battle with Mehdaayih in the Nassau Stakes over 1m2f at Goodwood and was soon beaten and eased. She's obviously better than that while it will be interesting to see if last year's top juvenile filly Skitter Scatter can bounce back to form.
I Can Fly (8-13) 4th of 9, 3 1/4l behind Coronet (8-13) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Aug.
Laurens (FR) 2-1fav (9-8) Chased leader, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and sustained challenge final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, shd behind Shine So Bright (9-1) at York 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Happen (USA) 6-1 (8-9) Brush gate st, kept on, 2nd of 5, 4 3/4l behind Concrete Rose (8-9) at Saratoga 1m 1f stks gd in Aug.
Hermosa (IRE) 13-8fav (8-13) (sweating before race) led early, tracked leader until pushed along 3f out, weakened quickly, tailed off, last of 9, dist behind Deirdre (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Aug.
Iridessa (IRE) 4-1 (9-0) Always towards rear, never a factor, pushed along early straight and no impression 2f out, edged right 1f out, no extra, 7th of 8, 11 3/4l behind Star Catcher (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 fll (1) gd in Jul.
Just Wonderful (USA) 20-1 (8-13) Slowly away towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish, 5th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Deirdre (9-7) at Goodwood 1m 2f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Aug.
Skitter Scatter (USA) 5-2fav (9-0) Led, soon headed and tracked leaders, 5th halfway, progress under 3f out, ridden and challenged under 1f out, led narrowly final 100 yards, kept on, headed close home, 2nd of 12, 1/2l behind Waitingfortheday (9-5) at Tipperary 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) Good - Yielding in Aug.
