held up in touch, headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, driven to lead inside final furlong, ran on strongly
led until over 5f out, remained prominent, driven to challenge 3f out, weakened over 2f out
held up in rear but in touch, headway over 2f out, chased leaders inside final furlong, stayed on well, never able to challenge
chased leaders, hard driven 3f out, soon faded
held up in touch, headway over 3f out, every chance over 2f out, weakened approaching final furlong
chased leader, led over 5f out, headed over 2f out, soon weakened
tracked leaders, led over 2f out, soon strongly challenged, hard driven over 1f out, headed inside final furlong, no extra
GOLDIKOVA has been to the UK twice, landing the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket in 2009 and beating Paco Boy in this a year ago. She has run in 18 Group 1 races and won an astonishing 13 of them. She struggled on her reappearance over slightly further at Longchamp but will have needed a blow-out and it will take a mighty effort to prevent victory number 14 at the highest level. Canford Cliffs looks a very worthy opponent and his victory over Rip Van Winkle and Premio Loco in the Sussex Stakes was out of the top drawer. He also had Premio Loco behind when making a winning reappearance in the Lockinge and is definitely open to more improvement than the great mare, though he's never raced on ground with give. Rio De La Plata's two Group 1 victories came in Italy where the opposition was nowhere near as strong as this though the ground was soft on both occasions. Cape Blanco, last year's Irish Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner, takes a drop in trip after his defeats in the spring but his sensational success over Rip Van Winkle and Twice Over at Leopardstown suggests he isn't coming here for third-place money.
Canford Cliffs (IRE) 4-5fav (9-0) Held up in 5th, closed going well from 3f out, went 2nd on bit over 1f out, shaken up to challenge, ridden to lead inisde final furlong, ran on, in command towards finish, won at Newbury 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in May beating Worthadd (9-0) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Cape Blanco (IRE) (9-2) 4th of 7, 2 1/2l behind Planteur (9-2) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 2f Grp 1 (1) gd in Apr.
Cityscape 5-1 (9-0) Held up in last pair, headway on outside over 2f out, chased winner over 1f out, outpaced inside final furlong, 2nd of 5, 2 1/4l behind Dick Turpin (9-0) at Sandown 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Apr.
Ransom Note 20-1 (9-2) 8th of 9 Goldikova (8-12) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f stk (1) gd in May.
Rio de La Plata (USA) 7-2 (9-11) Took keen hold, tracked leading trio, effort travelling well 2f out, every chance when hung left inside final furlong, not pace of leaders close home, just held on for 3rd, 3rd of 8, 1 1/2l behind Fanunalter (9-4) at Epsom Downs 1m Grp 3 (1) gf.
Flash Dance (IRE) 200-1 (8-12) Made running, headed 2f out, stayed on, 4th of 9 Goldikova (8-12) at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f stk (1) gd in May.
Goldikova (IRE) 8-11fav (8-12) Always prominent, led 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, kept on, won at Longchamp(FR) 1m 1f stk (1) gd in May, 9 ran.
