led overall, brought field to centre 8f out, headed over 3f out but still led centre group, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same poace
tracked leader, lost place over 3f out, headway to chase clear leader over 1f out, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on, comfortable
keen close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out
keen in touch in rear, headway to track leader over 4f out, led over 3f out, soon switched to race stand side alone, ridden 5 lengths clear over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
DEFOE flopped in the St Leger on his final start last year, when behind Count Octave, but had looked a very progressive performer earlier, rattling up a four-timer. He never gave supporters a moment’s worry on his return to action at Newbury and looks well up taking this step up in grade in his stride. Red Verdon was tried over 2m at Lingfield on All-Weather Championships day but, though finishing close up, may not have quite got home. The drop in distance is in his favour and he holds Master The World on the form book but he’s not won on Turf in almost two years. Khalidi looks a bigger danger as he had smart form last year when with John Gosden and is better than he’s shown in two runs for new connections.
Count Octave 1-2fav (9-9) Tracked leader, clear with leader over 1f out, driven to lead inside final furlong, all out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 4f stks (5) pol in Apr beating Saroog (9-2) by nk, 9 ran.
Defoe (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Held up in 5th, smooth headway on outside over 3f out, led on bit approaching final furlong, pushed along and stayed on well, comfortably, won at Newbury 1m 4f Grp 3 stks (1) gs in Apr beating Danehill Kodiac (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Khalidi 66-1 (8-13) last of 10, 14 1/4l behind Hawkbill (9-0) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Mar.
Master The World (IRE) 15-2 (9-2) Towards rear, pushed along 2f out, never a factor, 5th of 8, 9 1/4l behind Forest Ranger (8-13) at Newmarket 1m 1f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Apr.
Red Verdon (USA) 3-1jfav (9-5) In touch, ridden over 1f out, headway entering final furlong, stayed on towards finish, not trouble leaders, 4th of 9, 3/4l behind Funny Kid (9-5) at Lingfield 2m stks (2) pol in Mar.