held up, soon 7th, switched left halfway, soon pushed along, moderate 5th 1f out, kept on final furlong without reaching 1st 2
soon raced in 6th, pushed along in 4th under 2f out, challenged and on terms 1f out, led inside final furlong, stayed on well
tracked leaders, soon 4th, pushed along halfway, no impression from 2f out, moderate 7th 1f out, no extra
tracked leaders, soon 3rd, challenged between horses and on terms 1f out, headed and kept on same pace inside final furlong
soon raced in 5th, pushed along halfway, no impression from 2f out, no extra and eased inside final furlong
edged slightly right out of stalls, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, soon no impression, moderate 6th 1f out, kept on
edged slightly right out of stalls, soon led, headed 2f out and pushed along, 4th 1f out, kept on same pace
edged slightly right out of stalls, close up, led 2f out, headed 1f out, no extra inside final furlong
A three-year-old won this last year but was only the second from that age group to score in ten years. MAAREK (NAP) won this in 2013 and also gained his biggest success the same year in the Prix De L'Abbaye. He will love the testing ground and sets the benchmark high for the younger brigade. Great Minds has a fitness advantage having won a Listed contest over 6f in good style at Cork and if it came up very testing he will be difficult to beat. Anthem Alexander heads the younger generation having beaten Tiggy Wiggy in the Queen Mary before twice succumbing to that rival later. All of her runs after her debut were on fast ground so how she handles these conditions will decide her chances. Eisenhower will need to step-up on his Cork maiden victory but wouldn't be running here unless thought capable of doing so while Ainippe started her first campaign in brilliant form so fitness shouldn't be a concern.
Maarek 3-1fav (9-2) 11th of 13, 11l behind Gammarth (8-11) at Maisons-Laffitte(FR) 6f Grp 3 (1) hvy in Nov.
Great Minds (IRE) 9-2 (9-7) Settled in 4th, improved to take closer order from over 2f out, challenged 2f out and ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, kept on well under pressure inside final furlong, won at Cork 6f Listed stks (1) sft beating Bold Thady Quill (9-7) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Jamesie (IRE) 9-2fav (9-2) 6th of 12, 3 1/2l behind Ertijaal (8-13) at Meydan(UAE) 6f hcp gd in Feb.
Musical Comedy 25-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, lost place 3f out, switched right 2f out, soon weakened, last of 15, 23l behind Lightning Moon (9-1) at Ascot 6f Grp 3 (1) sft in Oct.
Aerialist (IRE) 25-1 (9-13) Chased leaders, 2nd halfway, slightly hampered and ridden entering straight, 4th 2f out, no impression 1 1/2f out, kept on one pace, 4th of 7, 4l behind Sir Maximilian (10-2) at Dundalk 5f lst stks 2yo (1) pol in Oct.
Ainippe (IRE) 3-1fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, headway over 1f out, soon not much room, ridden and kept on to take 3rd near finish, 3rd of 13, 2 1/2l behind Dark Reckoning (9-0) at Ayr 6f 2yo fll Grp 3 (1) gf in Sep.
Dikta Del Mar (SPA) 3-1 (8-12) won at Longchamp(FR) 5f Listed stks 2yo sft in Oct beating Something Lucky (9-2) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Coto (IRE) 13-2 (8-12) Dwelt and always rear, no extra over 1f out, last of 8, 5l behind Accepted (9-3) at Tipperary 5f 2yo lst stk (1) gf in Jul.
Anthem Alexander (IRE) 5-1 (9-0) Tracked winner, ridden 2f out, stayed on towards finish, 2nd of 9, 3/4l behind Tiggy Wiggy (9-0) at Newmarket 6f 2yo fll Grp 1 (1) gf in Sep.
Eisenhower (USA) 6-4fav (9-5) Soon disputed lead, marginally headed and pushed along from 1 1/2f out, led again from over 100yds out, kept on well, won at Cork 5f mdn stks gd beating Ostatnia (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
