soon led, ridden when headed 2f out, hard ridden to lead close home
held up, headway over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up, ridden and headway over 2f out, pressed leaders over 1f out, not run on
tracked winner, effort over 2f out, led soon after, ridden when headed close home
tracked leaders, driven 4f out, weakened over 1f out
AGE OF AQUARIUS is fancied to get the better of Father Time and Alwaary. The selection represents last year's successful connections and appeals as the type to make up into a leading contender for the top middle distance prizes. The form of his maiden win is working out well enough whilst his close up fourth to a stablemate in a French Group 1 also reads well enough. Father Time wasn't terribly strong in the market ahead of his reappearance at Newbury on rain softened ground. The quicker conditions should suit, he's entitled to come on for the run and this brother to the smart Passage Of Time is an interesting prospect. Alwaary finished six lengths adrift of Racing Post Trophy winner Crowded House before winning a Yarmouth maiden as he liked from a stablemate of Father Time. He didn't take up any of his engagements in the top end of season juvenile contests so has yet to be tested at this level but appears to possess all of the requisite attributes. Sumbe was a springer in the market ahead of a valuable sales race at Newmarket and ran a little better than the bare form suggests although this requires a huge step up. Montaff also needs to take a big step forwards from the form that he showed in soft ground maidens at the backend of the season although he was well entered up last term and is again this year so must show something at home. An interesting renewal in which Age Of Aquarius is taken to prevail.
Age Of Aquarius (IRE) (8-13) 4th of 11, 1 1/2l behind Fame And Glory (8-13) at Saint-cloud(FR) 1m 2f stk in Nov.
Alwaary (USA) 9-4 (9-3) Confidently ridden in rear, good headway approaching final furlong, led inside final furlong, ran on comfortably, won at Yarmouth 1m 2yo mdn (4) gd in Sep beating Cloudy Start (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Father Time 6-1 (8-13) Chased leaders in 4th, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and edged left from over 1f out, kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 7, 2l behind High Heeled (8-8) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo stk (3) gs in Apr.
Montaff 2-5fav (9-3) Held up, headway on outside over 3f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, kept on towards finish, won at Newcastle 1m 2yo mdn (4) hvy in Oct beating Hard Luck Story (9-3) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Sumbe (USA) 11-1 (9-3) Held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, beaten when hampered 2f out, 15th of 18, 30l behind Nehaam (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo aut stk (2) gf in Apr.
