set steady pace, quickened 3f out, ridden over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra towards finish
close up, ridden 3f out, outpaced over 1f out, stayed on towards finish
held up in rear, headway over 1f out, ridden inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
keen, tracked leader, ridden 3f out, led inside final furlong, driven out
A disappointing turn out of just four line up for this Group 3 contest in which Red Bloom is taken to beat her elders. Sir Michael Stoute's filly won two of her three starts as a juvenile, including the Meon Valley Stud Fillies' Mile at Ascot, and has twice been behind Attraction this season, in the 1,000 Guineas and Coronation Stakes. On both occasions she did not look fully tuned up, so it is to her credit that she ran so well both times. The extra furlong here will help, but the big question is whether she will handle the ground as she has shown a preference for fast going so far. Being a daughter of Selkirk, she should have inherited her sire's ability to act on the prevailing conditions, and is selected to come out on top. Her three rivals have already proved themselves in these conditions in the past, with Salselon boasting the best form overall. Luca Cumani's five-year-old won a Group 3 when trained in Italy last November and was not disgraced behind Whipper in a valuable Group 1 in France a fortnight ago. Imperial Dancer hails from a rejuvenated Mick Channon yard and bids for his first win since landing the Premio Roma last winter. However, he struggled behind Sulamani in the Juddmonte here recently and will do well to bounce back. Babodana has it to at this level but the Lincoln winner is reckoned to be capable of scoring in Group 3 company by connections. Whether that is today is debatable, and in receipt of weight from the others, Red Bloom can oblige.
