held up towards rear, ridden halfway, never on terms
held up in touch and raced keen early, ridden to challenge over 1f out, edged left and weakened inside final furlong
held up towards rear, headway halfway, chased leaders over 2f out, stayed on well, nearest finish
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on strongly inside final furlong, never nearer
went right start, mid-division, pushed along halfway, outpaced over 1f out, headway approaching final furlong, ran on closing stages, nearest finish
bumped start, soon tracking winner, ridden and every chance well over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in rear, switched left and headway well over 1f out, never on terms
made all, hard ridden and challenged over 1f out, stayed on strongly under pressure
chased leaders, ridden and effort well over 1f out, kept on well towards finish
prominent, effort over 2f out, soon every chance, weakened approaching final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, kept on under pressure, never nearer
This looks likely to go to a newcomer and the market should prove a useful aid with regard to expectations. Saeed Bin Suroor has won two of the last three renewals so Combat Zone commands respect but Swindler is preferred. Andrew Balding has done well with his newcomers this season and his son of Sinndar was heavily supported prior to his intended debut in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot. Unfortunately he was withdrawn having got worked up at the start so there has to be a slight concern but paddock watchers were certainly impressed by his stature and the market couldn't have spoken more loudly. The Godolphin juveniles got off the mark at Yarmouth last week which is an encouraging sign and Combat Zone's pedigree offers hope that he will be precocious enough to make a winning debut. He is a half-brother to juvenile winners while his sire, Refuse To Bend, has made a satisfactory start with his first crop. Richard Hannon is another trainer that has fared well in this maiden and he's represented by Soul City who shaped well at Windsor and can be expected to improve for the experience. He will need to though. Holyrood represents respected connections but Falbrav has yet to set the world alight as a stallion and Cloudy Start appeals as a likelier type. The market should help to show us the way but the ring has already given us a pointer to the chances of SWINDLER and he can show us just why this afternoon.
Citizenship Beat Hollow colt, brother to 7f winner Triple Beat, half-brother to 6f to 1m winner Trilogy.
Cloudy Start Oasis Dream colt, half-brother to three winners from 6f to 1m4f.
Combat Zone (IRE) Refuse To Bend colt, half-brother to 6f winner Mutawajid and 7f winner Zut Alors.
Derbaas (USA) Seeking The Gold colt, half-brother to winning miler Jaleela.
Holyrood Falbrav colt, half-brother to 7f winner Palatial, 1m-1m2f winner Ice Palace and 7f-1m2f winner Portal.
Makhaaleb (IRE) Haafhd colt, half-brother to winning miler Seleet.
Millharbour (IRE) Nayef colt out of winning sprinter My Funny Valentine.
Soul City (IRE) 9-2 (9-3) Slowly into stride, mid-division, ridden and headway 2f out, edged left, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 4l behind Dark Mischief (9-3) at Windsor 6f 2yo mdn auc (5) gf in Jun.
Swindler (IRE) Sinndar colt, half-brother to three middle-distance winners.
Topolski (IRE) 5-1 (9-1) Slowly into stride and behind, never a factor, 7th of 10, 18l behind Spring Tale (8-9) at Newcastle 6f 2yo mdn auc (5) gs in Jun.
Whispering Angel Hawk Wing colt out of a lightly-raced mare.
