led, headed over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, ridden 3f out, kept on same pace
held up in rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never nearer
raced far side alone until switched left to join centre group over 7f out, tracked leaders, weakened over 2f out
mid -division, switched left over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, stayed on final furlong, not trouble leaders
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened over 1f out
in rear, never near leaders
mid-division, headway over 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, joined winner inside final furlong, ran on, just held
towards rear, never on terms
in touch, headway 3f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
in touch, headway to lead over 1f out, joined inside final furlong, ridden and ran on, gamely
prominent, led over 3f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
always towards rear
went left start close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
The runner-up in last year's Group 1 Racing Post Trophy, JOHANN STRAUSS sets the standard. The Ballydoyle colt managed to get beat when odds-on for his reappearance at Leopardstown but remains the likeliest winner if back to his best. Sudden Wonder returned an impressive winner in soft ground here in October and Shafrah was impressive when scoring easily on his recent return to action at Lingfield. Lyn Valley's form tapered off at the end of last season but Joe Fanning prefers him to Lanark and Maxie T while Hunters Creek ran well in a similar sales contest over 7f here when fourth to Oklahoma City. Seagull Star and Emaratiya Ana have plenty of scope and are worth keeping an eye on.
Ganymede 25-1 (9-5) Close up, ridden 3f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 7, 12l behind Shama (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol.
Hunters Creek (IRE) 25-1 (9-3) Close up, led over 2f out, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, no extra and lost two places near finish, 4th of 17, 2l behind Oklahoma City (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 2yo aut (2) gf in Oct.
Johann Strauss 4-5fav (9-5) Held up towards rear, ran freely, progress early straight and not clear run in 4th over 1f out, switched right and kept on inside final furlong, 3rd of 10, 2l behind Fiscal Focus (9-5) at Leopardstown 1m mdn stks hvy.
Lanark (IRE) 33-1 (9-3) Prominent, weakened over 2f out, 14th of 17, 17l behind Oklahoma City (9-3) at Newmarket 7f 2yo aut (2) gf in Oct.
Lyn Valley 20-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders, took keen hold, lost place halfway, 10th of 11, 25l behind Piping Rock (8-12) at Newbury 7f 2yo Grp 3 (1) hvy in Oct.
Maxie T 3-1 (9-7) Made all, kept on well from over 1f out, pushed out, won at Catterick 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-70 (5) sft beating Late Shipment (9-10) by 2 1/2l, 7 ran.
Munfallet (IRE) 5-2 (9-5) Soon led, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 5, 3l behind Mutawathea (9-5) at Lingfield 6f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol.
Observational 9-2 (9-5) Prominent, led 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, stayed on inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 10, nk behind Chatez (9-5) at Newbury 1m 2yo mdn (4) sft in Oct.
Roskilly (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Led and set steady pace, quickened over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, not pace of winner and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 3/4l behind Moonrise Landing (9-0) at Lingfield 1m 2f 3yo mdn stks (5) pol in Mar.
Seagull Star 22-1 (9-5) In touch, headway over 1f out, shaken up to lead entering final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo mdn (4) gf in Oct beating Rasameel (9-5) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
Sudden Wonder (IRE) 8-11fav (8-12) Led, headed narrowly over 5f out, led again over 2f out, quickened clear approaching final furlong, comfortable, won at Newmarket 1m 2yo stks (2) sft in Oct beating Noble Metal (9-3) by 8l, 4 ran.
Cadeaux Power 20-1 (9-0) Tracked leader, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 9, 4 1/2l behind Queen Of Ice (9-0) at Newmarket 7f 2yo stks (4) sft in Nov.
Dancealot 6-1 (9-7) Tracked winner, ridden over 2f out, weakened inside final furlong, last of 5, 11l behind Ghaawy (9-5) at Yarmouth 1m 2yo hcp 0-85 (4) gs in Sep.
Emaratiya Ana (IRE) 5-4fav (8-11) Tracked leaders in 3rd, pushed along to lead over 1f out, kept on well, won at Kempton 1m (5) pol in Mar beating Sparkling Ice (8-11) by 2l, 10 ran.
Shafrah (IRE) 9-4fav (8-10) Made most, 3 lengths clear 2f out, ran on strongly, comfortable, won at Lingfield 1m mdn stks (5) pol in Mar beating L'importante (8-10) by 4l, 9 ran.
Ophir Nayef gelding out of Ermine.
