tracked winner, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong
steadied start, close up in 4th, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on to go 2nd inside final furlong, no threat to winner
tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 1f out, kept on one pace
made all, pushed along over 1f out, ran on
The veteran Pactolus hasn't won since gaining his 13th success, and his twelfth on the all-weather, over two years ago. Gift Of Kings, a winner over the trip at Newcastle in September, has changed stables after a poor run at Catterick the following month. GODDESS OF FIRE, four times a winner on the all-weather, gained her only Turf victory over Doncaster's straight mile in September but is back on the same mark and may be good enough. Turquoise Kingdom cost a whopping 500,000gns but has failed to reach a place in four starts, three of them on the all-weather.
Turquoise Kingdom 8-11fav (9-5) Prominent, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong, 6th of 7, 11 1/4l behind Mount Mayon (9-5) at Southwell 1m stks (5) pol in Jan.
Goddess Of Fire 15-2 (9-4) Led main group on inside, tracked leader after 2f, relegated towards rear over 2f out, ridden and progress over 1f out, ran on strongly final furlong, 2nd of 8, 1 1/4l behind Accomplice (9-7) at Lingfield 1m hcp fll (5) pol in Apr.
Gift Of Kings 16-1 (8-9) Towards rear, weakened over 3f out, tailed off, 10th of 11, dist behind Bollin Joan (9-9) at Catterick 1m 4f hcp (4) sft in Oct.
Pactolus (IRE) 11-1 (9-0) Pressed leader, led narrowly halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, 3rd and no extra inside final furlong, 3rd of 9, 3l behind Hawridge Storm (9-7) at Windsor 1m 2f hcp (5) gf in Apr.
