held up in 4th, ridden and headway over 3f out, weakened well over 1f out
tracked winner and keen until over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, one pace, no impression final 2f
held up in 5th, ridden over 3f out, one pace and no impression final 2f
tracked leaders and keen, chased winner over 6f out, ridden over 2f out, switched right over 1f out, stayed on and no impression final furlong
in rear, headway on outer over 5f out, ridden over 4f out, soon weakened
made all, quickened over 5f out, shaken up and went left over 1f out, soon clear
Not the most competitive Musidora of recent years on paper and one that can be taken by Punctilious, with Glen Innes and Bay Tree to follow her home. The selection was placed behind subsequent 1,000 Guineas second and fourth Sundrop and Red Bloom in Group 1 company at Ascot last time out in September, and that represents the best form on offer here by some distance. Bred to go well at this trip, she is expected to have trained on and can confirm her superiority. Glen Innes was second in Listed company on soft ground at Ascot a fortnight ago. She handles cut on that evidence and can also go well, but needs to make rapid improvement to win if the selection is in anything like her best form. The same can be said of Bay Tree, who should improve for the step up in trip and should handle cut, so could be good enough to make the frame. Of the remainder, Asia Winds is likely to come up short at this level, while Beverley runner-up Chanteloup has been thrown in at the deep end by David Loder and although that trainer can elicit plenty of improvement from his horses, he would be going some to pull off a win here. The selection then for the Musidora of 2004 is Punctilious.
