in touch, ridden 3f out, stayed on one pace from 2f out
pulled early, prominent, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong but not pace of winner
made all, ridden and quickened 2f out, stayed on well final furlong, readily
held up mid-division, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
slowly into stride, always behind, tailed off
chased leader, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong
slowly into stride, held up behind, ridden 3f out, stayed on one pace final furlong
chased leaders, ridden 2f out, weakened final furlong
prominent, ridden over 2f out, not quicken
held up towards rear, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
Provided that she is fit enough for her seasonal return to action, Elegant Shadow should be too good for her rivals, the best of who look to be the exposed Golden Heart and the newcomer Silent Oath. The selection made her debut when sixth of 16 in the maiden won by Sir Michael Stoute's Fantasize and stepped up on that when chasing home Aljazeera in a big-field maiden at Newmarket in November. Roger Charlton has his string in good form at present so it will be no surprise if the daughter of Grand Lodge is not fit enough to do herself justice. The 75-rated Golden Heart has had plenty of chances having raced nine times previously and is becoming expensive to follow. John Gosden's American-bred Silent Oath may, like many of her stable companions, need more time and a bigger threat to the selection may come from the once-raced pair of In The Pink and Plum. The latter needs to improve on her debut effort when behind Muwajaha at Pontefract while In The Pink looked in need of the run on her debut here over course and distance and should strip fitter today. However, it will take a good one to lower the colours of Elegant Shadow, who has solid claims on juvenile form.
