led, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace
pulled hard, tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up in rear, wide and headway 2f out, led over 1f out, ridden and ran on
keen close up, headway 2f out, soon every chance, ridden and kept on one pace
tracked leaders, pushed along and every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace
A Listed winner last term, Masekela also went close in a Group 2 on the July course here when well ahead of Austrian Theory. He edges this at the weights but CRESTA may prove the one to side with. The latter steps up in trip having ended last year with a second in the Horris Hill at Newbury and several Group 1 entries suggests there’s plenty more to come from Martyn Meade’s colt this season. Sonny Liston made a winning debut with a surprise win at Sandown last summer and is in both the Dante and the Derby while Dawn Of Liberation is preferred to Eydon with last month’s novice win at Doncaster under his belt.
Austrian Theory (IRE) 8-1 (8-12) Tracked winner, pushed along over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 2nd of 4, 5 1/2l behind Mr Mccann (9-1) at Epsom 1m 1f stks (2) gd in Sep.
Cresta (FR) 6-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, ridden over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, went 2nd towards finish, never going pace to challenge, 2nd of 7, 1 1/2l behind Light Infantry (9-0) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Dawn Of Liberation (IRE) 4-6fav (9-5) Made all, ridden 2f out, faced strong challenge over 1f out, ran on well final furlong, won going away, won at Doncaster 7f stks (5) gd in Mar beating Mount Athos (9-5) by 3l, 10 ran.
Eydon (IRE) 4-9fav (9-2) Led, pushed along over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed close home, 2nd of 8, shd behind Oceania Legend (9-9) at Newcastle 1m stks (5) pol in Feb.
Masekela (IRE) 85-40jfav (9-0) Close up, pushed along over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 5 1/4l behind Royal Patronage (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep.
Sonny Liston (IRE) 18-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, smooth headway out widest over 2f out, led over 1f out, quickened clear final furlong, easily, won at Sandown 7f stks (4) gd in Jul beating Dukedom (9-2) by 5 1/2l, 10 ran.