raced stands side, chased leaders over 4f
raced far side, mid-division, soon outpaced and behind
raced stands side, chased leaders over 5f
led far side group and overall leader until headed and no extra well inside final furlong
led stands side group and well on terms, stayed on well inside final furlong, just held by far side
raced far side, chased leaders, ridden halfway, stayed on final furlong
raced far side, behind, kept on final furlong, never nearer
raced far side, chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
raced stands side, always behind
raced stands side, chased leaders, driven to challenge over 2f out, soon outpaced, stayed on well inside final furlong
raced stands side, chased leaders, effort over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
switched to far side group over 6f out, always behind
raced far side, mid-division, ridden halfway, never on terms
raced far side, prominent, weakened well over 2f out
raced far side, in touch, headway over 2f out, kept on same pace
raced far side, slowly into stride, mid-division, outpaced over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong
raced far side, mid-division, struggling halfway, soon beaten
This is a smashing race but, in nominating Pure Illusion from a host of horses that could be fancied, we recommend that you pay heed to the betting and, also, to watch this race with an eye to the future. By Danehill out of a high-class but lightly-raced mare, Pure Illusion catches the eye on breeding and, if the market is positive about her, could go well. By Pivotal out of a Rahy mare, Sir Michael Stoute's Heaven Sent also has interesting breeding. Mind you, Sir Michael Stoute's other runner, Shortest Day, also catches the eye on breeding. Others to note are Choosy, who is from a good, fast family on her dam's side, Cross Channel, who is a Giant's Causeway half-sister to Sabre d'Argent, Galileo's daughter Galileo's Star, Mont Etoile, who is part-owned by Lester Piggott and is a daughter of Montjeu - although there is plenty of stamina on her dam's side, Sleeping Storm, who showed some promise on her debut, as did Missdevina, who was fourth to Dickensian at Chepstow on her racecourse bow, Star Cluster, a half-sister to Didina and other good winners, and Time On, who is by Sadler's Wells out of a mare that was placed in the French Oaks. Finally, Bint Al Hammour can also be considered, although there is middle-distance pedigree on her dam's side, while Deveron showed a modicum of promise on her Epsom debut. Overall, though, and with the caveats already mentioned in mind, we will side with Pure Illusion.
Ashburnham (IRE) Intikhab filly, half-sister to a winner in Italy.
Bint Al Hammour (IRE) Grand Lodge filly, half-sister to numerous winners on the Flat and over hurdles.
Choosy (IRE) Kalanisi filly, half-sister to 3 winning sprinters.
Cross Channel (USA) Giant's Causeway filly, half-sister to 3 winners including the useful Sabre d'Argent.
Deveron (USA) Cozzene filly, half-sister to 2 winning milers.
Galileo's Star (IRE) Galileo filly, half-sister to winners on the flat and over hurdles.
Heaven Sent Pivotal filly, full sister to 1m & 1m2f winner Megahertz.
Lavenham (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Started slowly, held up, headway 2f out to chase leaders, hung left and weakened over 1f out, 13th of 17, 17l behind Nasheej (8-11) at Newbury 7f 2yo mdn fll (4) gf in Jun.
Macs Ransom (USA) 11-2 (8-9) Always in rear, weakened halfway, behind final 2f, last of 8, 38l behind Arminius (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo mdn (5) gd in Jun.
Missdevina (IRE) 22-1 (8-9) Slowly into stride, soon mid-division, kept on towards finish, 4th of 15, 5l behind Dickensian (9-0) at Chepstow 6f 2yo mdn (5) gf in Jun.
Mont Etoile (IRE) Montjeu filly, half-sister to several winners on the Flat and over hurdles.
Picture Show (USA) 16-1 (8-11) Led, not handle bend over 3f out, headed and hung left 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 4th of 5, 7l behind Pure Fiction (8-11) at Epsom 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) gf in Jun.
Red Tsarina Russian Red filly out of Tudor Bay Lady.
Shortest Day Zafonic filly out of winning miler Winter Solstice.
Shropshirelass Beat All filly out of a moderate racemare.
Sleeping Storm (IRE) 40-1 (8-11) Started slowly, behind, headway 2f out, kept on, not pace to trouble leaders, 6th of 17, 7l behind Nasheej (8-11) at Newbury 7f 2yo mdn fll (4) gf in Jun.
Star Cluster Observatory filly, half-sister to several winners on the Flat and over jumps.
Time On Sadler's Wells filly out of useful 1m-1m2f winner Time Away.
Inn A Spin (IRE) 50-1 (8-11) Always behind, 6th of 7, 34l behind Celestial Princess (8-11) at Carlisle 7f 2yo mdn fll (5) gf.
Pure Illusion (IRE) Danehill filly out of useful sprinter Saintly Speech.
