in touch, headway 2f out, ridden to chase clear winner over 1f out, one pace and lost 2nd towards finish
in rear, never on terms
dwelt in rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, ran on final furlong, no threat to winner
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened, never a factor
mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, weakened final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
in touch, ridden 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
raced wide prominent, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
led, ridden over 3f out, headed over 2f out, weakened quickly
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression inside final furlong
always prominent, led over 2f out, quickened clear approaching final furlong, impressive
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, no impression final furlong
held up, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
keen close up, ridden 3f out, weakened 2f out
tracked leaders, joined leaders over 3f out, ridden 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
Aidan O’Brien has won this Classic just the once in the last 10 years and that was with an outsider but everything points to the ante-post favourite MINDING in today’s renewal. A dual Group 1 winner, she beat a couple of today’s rivals when defeating stablemate Ballydoyle in the Moyglare at the Curragh and then had Nathra four lengths behind in the Fillies’ Mile over track and trip. Both of the above have since boosted the form with Ballydoyle winning a Group 1 at Longchamp ahead of Turret Rocks and Nathra landing the Nell Gwyn here on her reappearance, beating both Robanne and Mix And Mingle. The well-regarded Lumiere steps up in trip having beaten Illuminate in the Cheveley Park while Criquette Head will not have sent Midweek over from France for the day out. Alice Springs is a third O’Brien runner and finished second at the Breeders’ Cup with Illuminate behind and August’s maiden winner Sharja Queen must have shown up well at home subsequently for Roger Varian to send her straight here.
Alice Springs (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Held up towards rear, soon 7th, moderate 5th 2f out, soon headway and pushed along to chase leaders in moderate 3rd, kept on same pace from over 1f out, 3rd of 9, 5 3/4l behind Jet Setting (9-0) at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr.
Aljazzi 4-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, switched right to outside over 1f out, stayed on into never nearer 4th towards finish, never troubled leaders, 4th of 8, 3 1/4l behind Marenko (9-0) at Chelmsford City 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) pol in Apr.
Ballydoyle (IRE) 5-4fav (8-11) Led entering final furlong, ran on well, won at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 fll (1) gs in Oct beating Turret Rocks (8-11) by 1 1/4l, 8 ran.
Blue Bayou 6-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, 4th early, a little keen, dropped to 8th and pushed along 3f out, no impression 2f out, some headway to chase leaders over 1f out on outer, kept on same pace, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Minding (9-0) at Curragh 7f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Epsom Icon 50-1 (9-0) Towards rear, ridden 2f out, effort entering final furlong, not trouble leader, 7th of 10, 3 1/2l behind Nathra (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Apr.
Fireglow 5-2jfav (9-3) Always prominent, led over 2f out, ran on strongly, won at Newmarket 1m lst fll stks (1) sft in Oct beating Rioca (9-0) by 4l, 9 ran.
Illuminate (IRE) 9-2 (8-10) Brief wait btw 1/4, 6th of 15, 2 1/2l behind Catch A Glimpse (8-10) at Keeneland 1m fll fm in Oct.
Jet Setting (IRE) 11-2 (9-0) Made all, pushed along 2f out, soon asserted and stayed on best, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 stks (1) hvy in Apr beating Now Or Never (9-0) by 3l, 9 ran.
Lumiere 10-3 (9-0) Made virtually all, hard pressed inside final 2f, ridden and stayed gamely under pressure final furlong, just held on, won at Newmarket 6f Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep beating Illuminate (9-0) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Midweek (8-13) 2nd of 13, 3/4l behind Spectre (8-13) at Maisons-Laffitte 7f Grp 3 stks hvy in Apr.
Minding (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Held up, smooth headway over 1f out, led approaching final furlong, stormed clear, impressive, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll (1) gs in Oct beating Nathra (9-0) by 4 1/2l, 10 ran.
Mix And Mingle (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Held up, switched left and headway 2f out, ridden and chance when edged left approaching final furlong, one pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Nathra (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Apr.
Nathra (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Held up, smooth headway 3f out, led narrowly 2f out, ridden and asserted towards finish, readily, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Apr beating Squash (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 10 ran.
Robanne 14-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, headway entering final furlong, ridden and ran on, not reach leaders, 3rd of 10, 2 1/4l behind Nathra (9-0) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Apr.
Sharja Queen 1-4fav (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 7f mdn fll stks (5) hvy in Aug beating Lightsome (9-0) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
Turret Rocks (IRE) 10-1 (8-11) Headed entering final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Ballydoyle (8-11) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 fll (1) gs in Oct.
