slowly into stride, held up towards rear, heaway over 1f out, kept on
held up, never dangerous
held up, headway and not clear run over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, stayed on
chased leaders, lost place over 3f out
held up towards rear, keen hold, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up, pushed along over 3f out, never on terms
broke well and went right start, soon restrained towards rear, headway and switched right over 1f out, soon every chance, led briefly inside final furlong, ran on
chased leaders, driven to challenge over 3f out, soon weakened
led, headed over 2f out, soon faded
held up, headway over 1f out, never on terms
prominent, every chance over 2f out, no effort final furlong
mid-division, headway over 2f out, soon every chance, kept on same pace final furlong
slowly into stride, soon in touch, driven to lead over 1f out, headed briefly well inside final furlong, rallied to lead again last strides, ran on
hampered start, mid-division, headway over 2f out, never on terms
prominent, led over 2f out, headed over 1f out, stayed on
Strategic Prince has done little wrong in his last two starts and may prove to be the pick of the home challenge but this looks to lie between two high class looking performers from Ireland in Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor with preference for Jim Bolger's colt. The selection could hardly have been more impressive when beating Holy Roman Emperor in the National Stakes at The Curragh last month under similar ground conditions and, despite Aidan O'Brien's colt bouncing back from that defeat to win well at Longchamp last time, there is no reason why the form should not be upheld. Peter Chapple-Hyam's Hamoody has done everything asked of him so far but would need to improve again to trouble the selection. Similar comments apply to Mick Channon's Halicarnassus, who is another to consider, but Teofilo could be different class to these and he is preferred.
Adagio 11-2 (9-0) Close up, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, stayed on to lead close home, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sept beating Tybalt (9-0) by a shd, 11 ran.
Dubai Builder 10-11fav (8-12) Tracked leaders, hard ridden 2f out, rallied under pressure inside final furlong to lead on line, won at Salisbury 6f 2yo stk (2) gs in Sept beating Resignation (9-1) by a shd, 4 ran.
Haatef (USA) 5-1 (9-3) Dwelt, settled in mid-division, 8th 2f out, improved into 4th and challenged over 1f out, led 100 yards from finish, ran on well, won at Curragh 6f 2yo mdn gd in Aug beating Naigani (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 25 ran.
Halicarnassus (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Chased leaders, lost place and pushed along halfway, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead close home, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Jul beating He's A Decoy (9-0) by 1/2l, 7 ran.
Hamoody (USA) 5-6fav (9-0) Took keen hold, tracked leaders, ridden to challenge 2f out, kept on gamely, led close home, won at Goodwood 6f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug beating Bodes Galaxy (9-0) by a hd, 7 ran.
He's A Decoy (IRE) 50-1 (9-0) Held up, last straight, ran on over 2f out, took 4th final furlong, 4th of 9, 3l behind Holy Roman Emperor (9-0) at Longchamp 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd.
Holy Roman Emperor (IRE) 7-4 (9-0) Held up, disputing close 6th straight, pushed along and quickened over 2f out, led over 1f out, driven out, won at Longchamp 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd beating Battle Paint (9-0) by 2l, 9 ran.
Mount Parnassus 7-1 (9-3) With leaders, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 6th of 14, 6l behind Desert Dew (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) sft in Sept.
Naigani (USA) 4-1fav (9-0) Slowly into stride, soon chased leaders in 3rd, 5th 1 1/2f out, kept on final furlong, 3rd of 12, 2 1/2l behind Tovaria (8-6) at Fairyhouse 6f 2yo prm hcp sft in Sept.
Prime Defender 11-2 (8-11) Behind, ridden over 2f out, headway over 1f out, running on when not clear run and hampered well inside final furlong, not recover, 3rd of 19, 2l behind Doctor Brown (8-11) at York 6f 2yo aut (2) sft in Aug.
Rallying Cry (USA) 4-5fav (9-0) Made all, hard pressed 2f out, soon edged left towards stand's side rail, hard driven final furlong, held on gamely, won at Kempton 1m 2yo stk (2) pol in Sept beating Monzante (9-0) by a hd, 5 ran.
Strategic Prince 6-1 (9-3) Tracked leader, led going well 2f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Goodwood 7f 2yo Grp 2 (1) gf in Aug beating Duke Of Marmalade (9-0) by a nk, 10 ran.
Teofilo (IRE) 2-1 (9-1) Settled 2nd, ridden to lead under 2f out, quickened clear 1f out, stayed on well, impressive, won at Curragh 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Sept beating Holy Roman Emperor (9-1) by 1 1/2l, 6 ran.
Traffic Guard (USA) 7-4fav (9-5) Always prominent, keen hold, led over 3f out, challenged from over 1f out, stayed on well under pressure, won at Newmarket 6f nov stk (3) gf in Sept beating Resignation (9-5) by a nk, 5 ran.
Vital Equine (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Prominent, disputing 3rd straight, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on final stages, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Holy Roman Emperor (9-0) at Longchamp 7f 2yo Grp 1 (1) gd.
