tracked leader, led over 2f out, soon ridden, headed over 1f out, outpaced and no impression when lost place inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along when short of room briefly over 3f out, driven 2f out, switched left and ridden over 1f out, stayed on into 2nd inside final furlong, not pace of winner
held up in rear, driven over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, went 3rd towards finish, not reach leaders
led, brought field towards stands side over 3f out, headed over 2f out, soon driven and one pace, weakened final furlong
pressed leader on outside after 2f, lost place over 2f out, soon ridden and behind
tracked leaders, headway over 2f out, soon challenged, shaken up to lead over 1f out, clear when ridden inside final furlong, ran on
held up in touch, driven to chase leaders towards far side of group over 2f out, soon hung left, ridden over 1f out, kept on same pace, no impression
held up in touch, tracked leaders over 3f out, outpaced 2f out, soon lost place, no impression after
Possibly the highlight of the four days and a splendid clash of the generations in prospect. Poet's Word has been campaigned in perfect fashion by his master trainer and now stands 6lb clear of his nearest rival on official ratings after completing a superb hat-trick in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Prince Of Wales's Stakes and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes - his claim to a third successive Group 1 is clear. ROARING LION and 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior fought out a tremendous finish in the Eclipse and there should be little between them again. However, the former seems ideally suited by this trip, as his Dante Stakes success showed, and he's awarded the vote. Benbatl and Thunder Snow give Godolphin a solid hand and are preferred in that order but Irish Derby winner Latrobe faces a massive test of newly-found credentials, though further improvement is anticipated. Classy miler Without Parole was disappointing at Goodwood and steps up to this trip for the first time while dual course winner Thundering Blue will need to improve again in this company.
Benbatl 6-4fav (9-6) won at Munich 1m 2f Grp 1 gd in Jul beating Stormy Antarctic (9-6) by 2 3/4l, 9 ran.
Poet's Word (IRE) 7-4 (9-7) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, went 2nd inside final 2f, closed gradually wide of winner inside final furlong to lead towards finish, won at Ascot 1m 4f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Jul beating Crystal Ocean (9-7) by nk, 7 ran.
Thundering Blue (USA) 5-1 (9-6) Held up in 6th, ridden and headway when not much room briefly 2f out, went 3rd entering final furlong, stayed on well, edged right when challenging close home, led last strides, won at York 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul beating Brorocco (9-6) by nk, 7 ran.
Thunder Snow (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) won at Meydan 1m 2f Grp 1 fst in Mar beating West Coast (9-0) by 5 3/4l, 10 ran.
Latrobe (IRE) 14-1 (9-0) Prominent, soon tracked leader, challenged and on terms over 2f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead near finish, won at Curragh 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Rostropovich (9-0) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Roaring Lion (USA) 7-4fav (8-11) Held up mainly in 5th, lost place and in last pair 4f out, headway on outside over 2f out, ridden to challenge inside final furlong, ran on, led narrowly inside final 100 yards, edged right and held on towards finish, won at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul beating Saxon Warrior (8-11) by nk, 7 ran.
Saxon Warrior (JPN) 9-4 (8-11) Tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, hard pressed inside final furlong, kept on when narrowly headed inside final 100 yards, carried right by winner towards finish, just held, 2nd of 7, nk behind Roaring Lion (8-11) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Without Parole 7-4fav (9-1) Soon led and set modest gallop, shaken up 3f out, headed over 2f out, well beaten final furlong, 7th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Lightning Spear (9-8) at Goodwood 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug.
