tracked leaders, switched right over 3f out, no extra inside final furlong
slowly into stride, held up in rear, switched right and headway over 2f out, went 2nd over 1f out, stayed on to challenge inside final furlong, led towards finish, headed last strides
tracked leader until 9f out, pushed along 5f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
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
held up in 5th, effort over 3f out, lost place over 1f out, weakened after
tracked leaders on outside, went 2nd 9f out, driven over 2f out, soon edged left, not pace of leaders inside final furlong, kept on
led, driven over 1f out, headed towards finish
Very few three-year-olds have run in this so the presence of ELARQAM is intriguing. The Tattersalls Stakes winner ran very well in the 2000 Guineas but didn't run anywhere near that form in the Irish version at the Curragh when the ground may have been too firm. Hopefully he can bounce back though Smart Call is waiting in the wings if he flops again. Sir Michael Stoute's charge gained his first success since arriving from South Africa when landing a Group 3 at Newcastle last month and that will have put him spot-on for this. Fabricate, a Group 3 winner, has been badly out of form in his last two starts but Forest Ranger completed a double at Group 3/2 level before finishing last in the Eclipse. Euginio was behind in the first of those runs and has since been beaten three times at Listed level.
Forest Ranger (IRE) 11-1 (9-7) Led 1f, tracked leader, ridden over 2f out, soon lost place, weakened final furlong, last of 7, 10 1/4l behind Roaring Lion (8-11) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gf in Jul.
Brorocco 8-1 (9-0) Held up towards rear, took keen hold, not clear run and switched right over 2f out, headway over 1f out, stayed on, not reach leaders, 5th of 19, 5l behind Euchen Glen (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Euginio (IRE) 7-4fav (9-7) Tracked leader, pushed along 3f out, lost 2nd over 1f out, chased leaders, held when not much room and no extra towards finish, 4th of 5, 3/4l behind Mustashry (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in Jul.
Thundering Blue (USA) 6-1 (9-4) Held up towards rear, pushed along over 4f out, headway 2f out, stayed on, went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 19, 2 1/4l behind Euchen Glen (9-3) at York 1m 2f hcp (2) gf in Jul.
Euro Nightmare (IRE) 33-1 (9-5) Slowly away 6 lengths of main group until in touch in rear halfway, ridden 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 5th of 7, 6 1/2l behind Horseplay (9-5) at Haydock 1m 4f Grp 2 fll (1) gf in Jul.
Smart Call (SAF) 7-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, driven to challenge over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at Newcastle 1m 2f Grp 3 fll stks (1) pol in Jun beating Rasima (8-7) by 1 3/4l, 9 ran.
Elarqam 2-1fav (9-0) Close up on inner, pushed along from halfway, dropped to 4th 3f out, soon no impression, switched left over 2f out and not much room, kept on same pace, 6th of 11, 7 1/4l behind Romanised (9-0) at Curragh 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in May.
Fabricate 14-1 (9-6) Chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon weakend, 13th of 16, 7 3/4l behind Monarchs Glen (9-8) at Ascot 1m 2f lst stks (1) gf in Jun.
