chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on, not pace to challenge
raced keen, held up, headway halfway, ridden 2f out, wandered inside final furlong, stayed on
led, ridden and headed 2f out, soon one pace
in touch, ridden and edged right 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up in rear, never dangerous
with leader, led 2f out, ridden and ran on well (new course record)
held up towards rear, never dangerous
close up, ridden and every chance 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong
in touch, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
The feature event on the second day of Newmarket's Cambridgeshire meeting has attracted some of the best colts that we have seen this season and promises to be a real cracker. Among those in action are four from the powerful Aidan O'Brien stable that always has to be respected, particularly at this meeting. Irrawaddy, Miguel Cervantes, Ontario and Tomahawk are the Coolmore team's representatives, with slight preference for the last mentioned. Mill Reef Stakes winner Zafeen has done nothing wrong and is entitled to take his chance in this company. However, this really should concern the two unbeaten colts in the line up, Country Reel and Elusive City, both of who were supplemented at a cost of ¿12,000 for this. The former looked one of David Loder's better juveniles when winning the Gimcrack Stakes at York last time and the way the stable's youngsters have improved with racing this term there is probably more to come. The TEAMtalk selection though is for Elusive City. Gerard Butler's American-bred was impressive on his debut in an all-weather maiden at Lingfield but has not stopped improving in two starts since, latterly when beating Zafeen in the Group 1 Prix Morny Casinos Barriere at Deauville. We take him to confirm superiority over that rival and to maintain the unbeaten run.
