held up off the pace in 5th, pushed along and struggling in 6th halfway, weakened
held up off the pace in 3rd until halfway, pushed along 4f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, never going pace to challenge
held up off the pace in 6th, bit closer in 5th halfway, went modest 4th final furlong
tracked clear winner, never on terms, pushed along and lost 2nd over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
steadied start, held up well off the pace in last, never a factor, tailed off
wore hood to post, made all and soon clear, reduced lead and ridden over 1f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
held up off the pace in 4th, pushed along 5f out, went 2nd over 2f out, no chance with winner when lost 2nd over 1f out, stayed on same pace in 3rd
Champion stayer Stradivarius hasn’t raced over a trip this short in more than three years when beaten in a handicap at Chester. Anthony Van Dyck failed to win in five starts after landing the Epsom Derby last year but always competed at the highest level and has Broome as a pacemaker in this. Last year’s winner DEFOE clearly needed the run at Meydan in March but still finished ahead of Desert Encounter and is closely matched with Ghaiyyath on a line through David Simcock’s globe-trotter. The latter probably failed to handle very soft ground in the Arc at Longchamp in October but bounced back in fine style in a Group 3 at Meydan in February. He probably has more to offer but the climb out of the dip here may test his stamina.
Alounak (FR) 50-1 (9-0) Btwn,rail bid,outkickd, 5th of 12, 2 1/4l behind Bricks And Mortar (9-0) at Santa Anita 1m 4f gd in Nov.
Anthony Van Dyck (IRE) (8-9) 12th of 14, 14l behind Glory Vase (9-0) at Sha Tin 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Dec.
Broome (IRE) 5-2 (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon raced in moderate 6th, moderate 5th halfway, pushed along under 4f out, dropped to 6th again straight, no extra over 2f out, 6th of 8, 15 1/4l behind Sovereign (9-0) at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jun.
Defoe (IRE) (9-0) 2nd of 10, shd behind Loxley (9-0) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Mar.
Desert Encounter (IRE) (9-0) 6th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Loxley (9-0) at Meydan 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Mar.
Ghaiyyath (IRE) (9-5) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 3 stks (1) gd in Feb beating Spotify (9-0) by 8 1/2l, 6 ran.
Stradivarius (IRE) 8-13fav (9-7) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on but pressed, headed very close home, just lost out, 2nd of 9, shd behind Kew Gardens (9-7) at Ascot 2m Grp 2 (1) gs in Oct.
