held up in touch, ridden 1 1/2f out, no impression
close up in 2nd, ridden under 2f out, kept on same pace
held up towards rear, progress when briefly short of room over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders on far rail, 6th after halfway, 5th under 1f out, kept on well
close up in 3rd, led 1 1/2f out, headed under 1f out, kept on
mid-division, 7th and effort when bumped 1f out, soon no extra
always towards rear
chased leaders, 8th approaching halfway, no impression from under 2f out
chased leaders, 5th halfway, weakened from over 1 1/2f out
tracked leaders, 4th halfway, headway under 2f out, led under 1f out, kept on well, comfortably
mid-division, 8th over 1f out, kept on
tracked leaders, 7th halfway, progress 2f out, 5th 1f out, kept on
led, ridden and headed 1 1/2f out, weakening when hampered under 1f out
held up, ridden 2f out, soon no extra
towards rear, outpaced halfway, ridden 2f out, 9th 1f out, kept on well
mid-division on outer, kept on same pace from 1 1/2f out
One of the best nursery handicaps of the year can go to PETRONIUS MAXIMUS, who finished like the proverbial express in the Windsor Castle Stakes at Royal Ascot but didn't lose his maiden tag until a week ago at the Curragh where he made all to beat Vastitas, who can boost the form with a big run in the previous race. Knock Stars is improving nicely and along with Jamesie, who was half-a-length behind her at Dundalk last time, looks a threat while other Polytrack winners Emerald Ring and Tell The Wind are also closely matched and should go well. All of Gentleman Duke's four runs have been over 7f but he has the pace for this as he showed when storming away with a Sligo maiden last month.
Whipless (IRE) 20-1 (8-13) Raced in third, weakened 2f out, 8th of 9, 12l behind Wootton Bassett (8-13) at Longchamp(FR) 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) sft.
Petronius Maximus (IRE) 7-2 (9-3) Made all, pressed from over 1f out, soon edged right, ridden and kept on well despite continuing to drift right, won at Curragh 6f 2yo mdn beating Vastitas (8-12) by nk, 11 ran.
Oor Jock (IRE) 7-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders in 4th, 5th under pressure under 2f out, kept on same pace, 5th of 8, 5l behind Longhunter (9-1) at Curragh 6f 2yo lst stk (1) in Sep.
Sydney Harbour (IRE) 6-1 (9-1) Held up, 6th and ridden over 1 1/2f out, no impression, 6th of 8, 8l behind Longhunter (9-1) at Curragh 6f 2yo lst stk (1) in Sep.
Tell The Wind (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Always prominent, 2nd halfway, improved to dispute lead 2f out, headed under pressure just inside final furlong, no impression and kept on same pace, 3rd of 10, 1 1/2l behind Warning Flag (9-1) at Dundalk 7f 2yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Emerald Ring (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Settled 2nd, smooth headway to lead 1 1/2f out, quickened clear, very easily, won at Dundalk 6f 2yo mdn fll pol beating Moscow Treat (8-11) by 7l, 12 ran.
Gentleman Duke (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders in 4th, headway entering straight, led 1f out, soon ridden clear, stayed on strongly, won at Sligo 6f 2yo mdn aut in Sep beating Gold Post (9-3) by 7l, 14 ran.
Foolproof (IRE) 25-1 (9-1) Settled in rear, some headway on outer entering straight, moderate 5th over 1f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 10, 5l behind Warning Flag (9-1) at Dundalk 7f 2yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Expire (IRE) 4-1 (9-4) Close up in 2nd, ridden to lead narrowly under 2f out, headed under 1f out, soon no extra, 3rd of 11, 1 1/2l behind Knock Stars (8-13) at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol.
Knock Stars (IRE) 3-1fav (8-13) Held up, smooth headway entering straight, 3rd 1 1/2f out, ridden to lead under 1f out, kept on well, won at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol beating Jamesie (8-9) by 1/2l, 11 ran.
Obligada (IRE) 9-2 (8-12) Awkward leaving stalls and slowly into stride, raced last, went 3rd 3f out, soon ridden and no impression, 3rd of 4, 9l behind Seville (8-10) at Tipperary 7f 2yo stk sft.
Truly Genius (IRE) 5-1 (9-4) Chased leaders, 5th and ridden early straight, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Knock Stars (8-13) at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol.
Bad Romance (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Prominent, 2nd halfway, ridden and lost place 2f out, no extra from over 1f out, 8th of 21, 11l behind Stage Master (9-3) at Curragh 6f 2yo mdn in Sep.
Independent Girl (IRE) 13-8fav (9-0) Led or disputed lead, narrow advantage entering straight, strongly pressed and kept on under pressure, headed closing stages, no chance with winner, 2nd of 14, 2l behind Alanza (9-0) at Listowel 6f 2yo fll mdn in Sep.
Long Time Coming (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) Mid-division, 8th under pressure halfway, moderate 6th into straight, kept on, 3rd of 14, 7l behind Gentleman Duke (9-3) at Sligo 6f 2yo mdn aut in Sep.
Jamesie (IRE) 7-1 (8-9) Led, ridden and narrowly headed under 2f out, rallied under pressure inside final furlong, 2nd of 11, 1/2l behind Knock Stars (8-13) at Dundalk 6f 2yo hcp pol.
