in touch, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on to press for 2nd near finish
close up, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
pressed leader, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed and no extra inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden 2f out, no impression
soon led, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to chase winner inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on (course record)
slowly into stride, in rear, ridden 2f out, never a factor
Amazing Maria won this last year and was far from disgraced when sixth to the brilliant Tepin in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot. But we can see no reason why she should reverse earlier Dahlia Stakes form here with USHERETTE, who goes from strength-to-strength. Andre Fabre's four-year-old was completing a four-timer when easily winning the Duke Of Cambridge Stakes at the royal meeting and should again beat third Always Smile. Euro Charline is a high-class mare who wouldn't be winning out of turn. She was second in the Lockinge in May and should reverse Meydan form early in the year with Very Special. Alice Springs didn't have much luck in either the French 1,000 Guineas or the Coronation Stakes but no three-year-old has won this since 2010.
Always Smile (IRE) 9-2 (9-0) In rear, switched left 2f out, ridden and ran on final furlong, not reach leaders, 3rd of 14, 2 1/4l behind Usherette (9-3) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 fll stks (1) sft in Jun.
Amazing Maria (IRE) 20-1 (8-11) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Tepin (8-11) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Jun.
Irish Rookie (IRE) 17-2 (8-1) Washy,8w 1/4,no impact, 12th of 13, 8 1/2l behind Celestine (8-9) at Belmont Park 1m stks gd in Jun.
Usherette (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Held up, smooth headway 2f out, led approaching final furlong, ran on, comfortable, won at Ascot 1m Grp 2 fll stks (1) sft in Jun beating Furia Cruzada (9-0) by 2 1/4l, 14 ran.
Very Special (IRE) 15-2 (8-9) Tracked leader, led 600m out, headed 200m out, weakened final 100m, 6th of 0, 2 3/4l behind Real Steel (9-0) at Meydan 1m 1f Grp 1 (1) gf in Mar.
Alice Springs (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Held up, in last pair, troubled passage from over 2f out, switched left inside final 2f, still plenty to do 1f out, ridden and strong run inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, almost snatched 2nd, never able to challenge, 3rd of 13, 1 3/4l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
Ashadihan 33-1 (9-0) Held up, in rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden inside final 2f, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on same pace and no impression inside final furlong, 6th of 13, 4 1/4l behind Qemah (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gs in Jun.
Euro Charline 12-1 (8-11) Held up in mid-division, headway 3f out, 2nd travelling well over 2f out, led entering final 2f, ridden inside final furlong, headed and no extra well inside final furlong, 2nd of 12, 1l behind Belardo (9-0) at Newbury 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in May.
