in touch, shaken up to chase leader over 1f out, quickened to lead inside final furlong, soon clear, comfortably
soon led, ridden and headed inside final furlong, soon outpaced by winner
slowly into stride, held up in rear, not far away, ridden 2f out, kept on to go 3rd inside final furlong, never a danger
tracked leader, ridden 2f out, soon weakened
went right start, keen, tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
Nonrunner
FIVE STAR JUNIOR can land a four-timer with Satwa Street and Princess Calgliari the ones fancied to chase him home. The American bred gelding took a while to click despite showing obvious promise for Brian Meehan but he hasn't looked back since getting his head in front for his new yard. He won with enough in hand to believe that he can cope with a 6lb penalty and we expect Five Star Junior to be looking for his fifth consecutive win in the near future. Satwa Street won his maiden here in November and was just three quarters of a length behind the selection on his latest start. The winner was value for more than the winning margin though and minor honours await. Princess Calgliari is another to have chased home the Stubbs horse of late and she, too, is weighted for revenge but she has been reluctant to put her head in front on the line and will have to settle for a share of the place money. My Best Bet comes into the race on the back of a win but she will need to take a significant step forwards if she's to defy her penalty and lower the colours of Five Star Junior.
Five Star Junior (USA) 2-1fav (8-13) Towards rear, headway over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, ridden and edging left when led well inside final furlong, won at W'hampton 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jan beating Changing The Guard (8-9) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Satwa Street (IRE) 5-1 (9-3) Pressed leader, ridden to lead 2f out, soon pressed and headed 1f out, lost 2nd final stride, 3rd of 7, 3/4l behind Five Star Junior (8-10) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jan.
Vegas Baby (IRE) 7-2fav (9-11) Held up, ridden on outer from 1 1/2f out, kept on well without threatening, 4th of 10, 2 1/2l behind Calm Bay (8-12) at Dundalk 5f 2yo hcp pol in Sept.
Mazzola 16-1 (9-5) Took keen hold early, raced in mid-division, ridden and no impression final 2f, 7th of 12, 4 1/2l behind Sir Geoffrey (8-9) at Kempton 5f 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) pol in Oct.
Sir Geoffrey (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Slowly into striide, soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on until weakened 1f out, last of 7, 10l behind Five Star Junior (8-10) at Lingfield 6f 3yo hcp (4) pol in Jan.
My Best Bet 9-4jt-fav (8-10) Steadied start, held up 5th in touch, switched right 2f out, good headway over 1f out, led just inside final furlong, soon clear, ridden out, won at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (5) pol in Jan beating Head Down (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Princess Cagliari 7-2fav (8-12) Steadied start, soon ridden along in rear, headway from 2f out, ridden to challenge 1f out, every chance and chasing winner inside final furlong, no extra close home, 2nd of 11, hd behind Perfect Class (8-6) at Kempton 6f 3yo hcp (5) po.
