led, ridden and headed 3f out, weakening when hampered 2f out
slowly into stride, held up, pushed along and headway 3f out, ridden and one pace final 2f
in rear, ridden and headway from over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
in touch, ridden and weakened 3f out
mid-division, ridden and weakened 3f out
mid-division, ridden 3f out, hung badly right 2f out, soon weakened
pulled hard, held up in touch, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
tracked leaders, headway to chase winner over 1f out, every chance inside final furlong, edged right, ran on
held up in touch, good headway to lead 2f out, edged left and pressed inside final furlong, ridden and ran on
held up, headway when short of room 3f out, not a factor after
held up, ridden and headway 2f out, driven and stayed on final furlong
taken to post early, tracked leader, led 3f out, ridden and headed 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
held up mid-division, ridden 3f out, beaten when hampered 2f out
chased leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace
slowly into stride, pulled hard in rear, headway when not clear run over 1f out, and again entering final furlong, switched right, ran on, too much to do
towards rear, ridden and headway approaching 2f out, soon one pace
held up in rear, switched right over 3f out, headway and switched left over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, too much to do
held up, headway to track leaders over 3f out, weakened entering final 2f
The inaugural running of this contest has attracted a field befitting of the prize money on offer and could quickly establish itself as an early season highlight. ROCKHAMPTON is taken to land the spoils whilst we can expect to see big runs from the likes of Liberation, Nehaam and Monitor Closely. A number in this field possess Derby entries and can be expected to improve on the form shown at two. Liberation has some of the best juvenile form on offer having finished close up behind Donativum in the sales race here in October when ahead of Monitor Closely, Weald Park and Cry Of Freedom amongst others. Saeed Bin Suroor has made slow starts to the campaign in recent seasons and he's overlooked as a result. Rockhampton was disappointing on his second career start having finished strongly on heavy ground on his debut but he scored effortlessly on his seasonal return in what appeared to be a decent maiden. He earned the inevitable quotes for the Derby following that display and rates the one to beat. Nehaam is the pick of the Hamdam Al Maktoum runners if jockey bookings are anything to go by and there was plenty to like about the way he went about his business in September; after which races like the Racing Post Trophy and Royal Lodge were discussed. The short-list could easily be extended but Rockhampton looks a smart individual in the making and can confirm the impression that he created at Leopardstown.
Anacreon (IRE) 4-11fav (9-3) Led 1f, remained prominent, led again over 2f out, soon driven clear, comfortably, won at Lingfield 6f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol beating Vamos (9-3) by 4l, 6 ran.
Asateer (IRE) Evensfav (9-3) Steadied start, keen, soon in touch, chased clear leader over 2f out, ridden and hung badly left over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 4th of 15, 4 1/2l behind Ashram (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn aut (4) gd in Aug.
Capeability (IRE) 4-7fav (8-8) Tracked leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, led just over 1f out, kept on until headed and outpaced by winner well inside final furlong, 2nd of 10, 1l behind Satwa Gold (8-8) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Classically (IRE) 13-2 (9-3) Held up, headway over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on well towards finish, 3rd of 13, hd behind Everynight (9-3) at Doncaster 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gf in Mar.
Cry of Freedom (USA) 9-2 (9-0) Tracked winner, effort over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 5th of 8, 9l behind Ocean's Minstrel (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 3yo Listed stks (1) pol.
Laurie Grove (IRE) 6-1 (8-11) Raced keenly, close up, ridden and effort over 2f out, not quickened over 1f out kept on one pace, 4th of 10, 4 1/2l behind Saint Arch (9-4) at Kempton 1m 3yo hcp 0-90 (3) pol in Mar.
Liberation (IRE) 7-2 (8-7) Rear of mid-division; chased leaders 500m out; ran on well; no chance with winner, 2nd of 13, 1 3/4l behind City Style (8-7) at Nad Al Sheba(UAE) 7f stks (1) gd in Mar.
Monitor Closely (IRE) 8-11fav (9-3) Pressed leader, led over 3f out, edged right over 1f out, stayed on gamely under pressure final furlong, all out, won at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) gs in Oct beating London Bridge (9-3) by 1l, 18 ran.
Nehaam 9-2 (9-3) Tracked leaders, pushed along 2f out, ran on to lead inside final furlong, readily, won at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) gf in Sep beating Baariq (9-3) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Pergamon (IRE) 5-2 (8-12) Led, headed 2f out, soon ridden, every chance inside final furlong, not quicken, 2nd of 3, 1 1/4l behind Canwinn (8-12) at Nottingham 1m 2yo nov stk (5) sft in Aug.
Rockhampton (IRE) 6-4fav (9-0) Tracked leaders in 5th, headway entering straight, 3rd under 2f out, led 1f out, quickened clear, easily, won at Leopardstown 1m 2f 3yo mdn gd in Mar beating Pirate Ship (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 13 ran.
Sign of Approval 9-4 (8-12) Steadied start, led after 1f, two lengths clear 2f out, hung badly right 1f out, stayed on and in command final furlong, ridden out, won at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Feb beating Divinatore (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Sumbe (USA) 25-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden over 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 6th of 19, 6l behind Delegator (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (4) gd in Aug.
Weald Park (USA) 10-1 (9-3) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, faded inside final furlong, 5th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Mafaaz (9-3) at Kempton 1m 1f cnd stks (3yo) (2) pol in Mar.
Moneycantbuymelove (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Chased winner, ridden 2f out, no extra inside final furlong, 4th of 16, 7l behind Tiger Eye (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo flls auc (2) gf in Oct.
Saa'ida (IRE) 33-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, ran green in rear, still last over 2f out, kept on final furlong, 8th of 13, 12l behind Three Moons (9-0) at Folkestone 1m 2f 3yo fll mdn (5) gf.
The Miniver Rose (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching 2f out, edged right over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, 3rd of 16, 4 1/2l behind Tiger Eye (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo flls auc (2) gf in Oct.
Vitoria (IRE) 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden 2f out, chased winner 1f out, kept on same pace, 2nd of 16, 2 3/4l behind Tiger Eye (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo flls auc (2) gf in Oct.
Popmurphy 11-2 (9-3) In touch, chased leader over 2f out, stayed on to lead well inside final furlong, asserted close home, won at Windsor 1m 2f 3yo mdn (5) gd beating Souter Point (9-3) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
