held up in last trio, behind and hung right final 2f, never a factor
pushed along to track leader 8f out, pushed along over 2f out, led and edged right over 1f out, stayed on strongly
went to post early, raced keenly in last trio, headway on outside under pressure 2f out, went never dangerous 3rd near finish
led briefly, settled tracking leaders 8f out, headway over 2f out, soon pushed along in 3rd, never any chance with leading duo, lost never dangerous 3rd near finish
soon led, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner, kept on for clear 2nd
held up last, some late minor headway, never on terms
raced keenly, tracked leaders on inside, hanging right when not clear run over 2f out, weakened when in the clear final furlong
Second only to the likes of Cracksman and Enable at the highest level at the end of last year, CRYSTAL OCEAN made a winning reappearance in this before landing the Group 2 Hardwicke at Ascot. Sir Michael Stoute’s charge may well prove even stronger this season and is taken to confirm last year’s running with second-placed Fabricate. Thundering Blue also showed good progress last year when winning a Group 2 at York before placing in the Canadian International at Woodbine in October while Knight To Behold landed a Group 2 contest on a trip over to France last term and that looks stronger form than Andre Fabre’s Listed winner Trais Fluors has so far managed. Pivoine and Extra Elusive have plenty to find on these terms and will do well to figure.
Thundering Blue (USA) (8-13) 10th of 14, 16 1/4l behind Almond Eye (8-4) at Tokyo 1m 4f fm in Nov.
Crystal Ocean 11-4 (9-5) Tracked leading pair on inside, switched right to inside and outpaced as winner quickened on over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, ridden and kept on same pace over 1f out, no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 8, 6l behind Cracksman (9-5) at Ascot 1m 2f Grp 1 stks (1) sft in Oct.
Extra Elusive 20-1 (9-0) Dwelt towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, pressed winner inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 9, 1/2l behind Mootasadir (9-5) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Fabricate 10-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden 2f out, stayed on inside final furlong, 4th of 9, 5 3/4l behind Mootasadir (9-5) at Kempton 1m 2f lst stks (1) pol in Mar.
Knight To Behold (IRE) (9-2) 8th of 9, 7l behind Alignement (9-2) at Longchamp 1m 2f Grp 2 gs in Oct.
Pivoine (IRE) 7-2 (10-0) Held up in 5th on inside, never on terms, 6th of 8, 6 3/4l behind Nonios (9-0) at Chelmsford City 1m 2f hcp (2) pol in Apr.
Trais Fluors (8-12) won at Chantilly 1m 1f stks pol in Mar beating Call The Wind (9-5) by 2 1/2l, 8 ran.
