tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, ridden and effort over 1f out, stayed on final furlong
held up, headway over 1f out, hard ridden and stayed on final furlong
chased leaders, driven and effort over 2f out, weakened entering final furlong
prominent, ridden and every chance over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, never troubled leaders
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, ran on to lead well inside final furlong
tracked leaders, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
held up in touch, pulled hard, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up mid-division, smooth headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, soon ridden, headed well inside final furlong, kept on
led, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
An excellent line-up for one of the most prestigious races in the calendar, and one that will have a huge bearing on the shape of next year's 2,000 Guineas and Derby. Just for the record, from the last 11 runnings of this race, three have gone on to win next year's Guineas (Rock Of Gibraltar. Pennekamp and Zafonic), while a further four have been placed in the first colts Classic. With such names as Storm Bird, Diesis, El Gran Senor, Ajdal and the Derby winners Generous and Dr Devious also appearing as winners in fairly recent times, then a measure of the race's importance can be further gauged. As we say, this year's race is a cracker with Three Valleys our selection ahead of Snow Ridge, Balmont and Antonius Pius, but a number of others also have to be considered. Three Valleys only defeat in four runs came when he returned ill from The Curragh's Phoenix Stakes. Having earlier been very impressive in the Coventry Stakes, he got back to winning ways with a very good win in the fast-run Middle Park Stakes at this track. He showed plenty of speed there but, on breeding, he should have no problem with this extra furlong. By contrast, Snow Ridge, winner of Ascot's Royal Lodge Stakes, drops back in trip today. It's a bold move by connections with a colt who has been well-supported for next year's Derby and indicates the regard in which the colt is held by his shrewd trainer Marcus Tregoning. Antonius Pius represents Aidan O'Brien and the $1.5m unbeaten son of Diesis - who has not run for 111 days - is already a scorer at Group 2 level. Add into the mix the Gimcrack winner (and staying-on Middle Park runner-up) Balmont, impressive Sandown maiden winner Duke Of Venice, the Champagne Stakes third Haafhd, Sir Michael Stoute's Imperial Stride, and Brian Meehan's highly regarded Cape Fear, and you have a race to really savour. This will be a hugely-informative race and, particularly as he is proven on fast going, Three Valleys gets our vote.
