settled in 3rd, smooth headway on outer to lead 1 1/2f out, pushed out and stayed on well inside final furlong, comfortably
tracked leader in 2nd, ridden and briefly dropped to 3rd 2f out, 2nd and no impression on winner from over 1f out, kept on same pace
led, jinked right under 2f out and soon headed, dropped to 3rd over 1f out and no impression inside final furlong
Aidan O'Brien had five entries at the early stage and relies on DARWIN, whose two runs to date have been on Dirt surfaces at Aqueduct and Belmont. He cost 1.3m dollars as a two-year-old and with numerous big race entries there'll be some long faces at Ballydoyle if he's not capable of beating his two useful though limited rivals, who both wear blinkers for the first time. Fighter Squadron attempted to make all over 1m3f in a Listed event at Leopardstown but the plan backfired and he should do better over today's distance. Resolute Response finished just in front of him and appeared well suited to that trip so may find this on the short side.
Fighter Squadron (USA) 5-1 (9-3) Led, pressed approaching straight and headed 2f out, soon ridden and dropped to 5th 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 7, 8l behind Dibayani (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gf.
Resolute Response (IRE) 10-1 (9-3) Tracked leaders on inner in 4th, 3rd early straight and soon ridden, no impression from over 1f out and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 3 1/2l behind Dibayani (9-3) at Leopardstown 1m 3f 3yo lst stk (1) gf.
