led, pushed along 3f out, ridden and hung left over 2f out, soon headed, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, in touch towards rear, ridden 2f out, hung left entering final furlong, never going pace to trouble leaders
tracked leader over 1f, in touch, went 2nd over 3f out, led 2f out, in command when edged slightly right inside final furlong, ran on well
took keen hold and tracked leaders early, mid-division, hung left from 3f out, hampered 1f out, no impression
close up on outside, went 2nd over 8f out until over 3f out, chased winner well over 1f out until inside final furlong, no extra
awkward leaving stalls, held up in rear, ridden over 3f out, no impression
in touch towards rear, bumped slightly when making effort 3f out, kept on inside final furlong, no impression on winner
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on under pressure from over 1f out, just pipped for 2nd, no impression on winner
This Listed contest can go to LADY DARSHAAN, who is taken to have the measure of Eleanora Duse, Pink Symphony and Nurture. Our selection takes a significant drop in grade from the Group 1 Irish 1,000 Guineas, where she ran very well in sixth, to this easier race. She goes well on fast ground, although with Sadler's Wells in the pedigree she surely won't mind any rain, and she sets the standard for the contest. Eleanora Duse finished one-and-a-half lengths ahead of Pink Symphony when the pair finished behind Aviate at York in the Musidora last month. There is no obvious reason why Paul Cole's filly should reverse those placings and with this year's renewal of that Oaks trial clearly not as strong as some of late, we will take them both on. There was plenty to like about they way Nurture won her Windsor maiden over this trip last time out, having been firmly put in her place in the Guineas, but if you take that Classic out of her CV then she is building up a decent profile and she is not ruled out this afternoon. Kithonia is a potential improver, but will have to make sizeable strides to win this, and Deidre looks best of the remainder. However, with the step up in trip a big positive we'll side with the classiest runner in the field, Lady Darshaan.
Deirdre 20-1 (9-0) Led at steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden well over 1f out, headed 1f out, weakened to 3rd inside final furlong, 3rd of 8, 3 1/2l behind Snow Fairy (9-0) at Goodwood 1m 2f 3yo lst fll (1) gd in May.
Diam Queen (GER) 9-2 (9-3) Slowly away, keen and held up, ridden over 3f out, weakened 2f out, 11th of 12, 23l behind Wigmore Hall (9-4) at Newmarket 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-95 (3) gf in Apr.
Eleanora Duse (IRE) 15-2 (8-12) Held up in touch, headway 3f out, chased leader over 2f out, ridden to lead narrowly over 1f out until just inside final furlong, kept on under pressure, held when hampered near finish, 3rd of 8, 1l behind Aviate (8-12) at York 1m 2f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Kithonia (FR) 15-8fav (9-0) Chased leaders, led inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Salisbury 7f 2yo stks (4) sft in Sep beating Lady Slippers (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 16 ran.
Lady Darshaan (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Always prominent, 4th under 3f out, 2nd 1 1/2f out, no extra and kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 19, 2 1/2l behind Bethrah (9-0) at Curragh 1m 3yo Fll Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Nurture (IRE) 8-15fav (8-12) Made virtually all, pushed along 3f out, ridden and hard pressed from over 2f out, ran on, won at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn aut (5) gf in May beating Centime (8-12) by 3/4l, 13 ran.
Pink Symphony 9-1 (8-12) Held up towards rear, driven 3f out, ridden and headway on outside well over 1f out, stayed on under pressure final furlong, not reach leaders, 4th of 8, 2 1/2l behind Aviate (8-12) at York 1m 2f 3yo fll Grp 3 (1) gd in May.
Shimmering Surf (IRE) 7-2 (8-12) Tracked leader, ridden to challenge over 2f out, led over 1f out, kept on well, won at Salisbury 1m 2f fll mdn stks (5) gf in May beating Scorn (8-12) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
