behind, headway under pressure over 1f out, ran on to chase winner inside final furlong
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened inside final furlong
chased leaders, effort over 2f out, soon weakened
in touch, weakened halfway, soon behind
always behind
led until over 2f out, kept on under pressure
held up, headway halfway, soon hard ridden, weakened over 1f out
prominent, hard ridden over 2f out, soon weakened
held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, weakened final furlong
reared start, in touch, every chance over 1f out, no extra final furlong
in touch, lost place halfway
always prominent, led over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, kept on
held up in touch, hard ridden and ran on to lead inside final furlong, stayed on gamely
chased leaders, under pressure over 2f out, soon weakened
Foreign runners have done really well at Royal Ascot this year, particularly in the sprints and that trend can continue here with Mike De Kock's recent Windsor and dual Grade 1 winner J J THE JET PLANE taken to follow up here and getting the verdict over Sacred Kingdom, with the pick of the home challenge looking to be King's Apostle. The last mentioned has shown progressive form over the last two seasons and the William Haggas-trained gelding lost no caste in defeat behind Utmost Respect in a Group 2 at York. He has to be respected but looks booked for place at best. Luca Cumani's Ialysos was a winner of all seven starts in Greece and made a winning debut in the UK when successful in a Listed race at Haydock last month but this is much tougher. Sir Michael Stoute's Kingsgate Native, the winner of this race 12 months ago, faces no easy task on his reappearance and of more interest may be Takeover Target, who has been in good form since finishing fourth in this event last year. Sacred Kingdom has been showing top form in the highest grade in Hong Kong and, given the record of foreign runners at the royal meeting this year, he has solid claims but marginal preference is for J J The Jet Plane.
Cannonball (USA) 33-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, plenty to do and still last over 1f out, strong run inside final furlong, finished well, 6th of 15, 6l behind Scenic Blast (9-4) at Royal Ascot 5f (1) gf.
Diabolical (USA) (8-13) 3rd of 14, 4l behind Sacred Kingdom (8-13) at Kranji(SNG) 6f Grp 1 gd in May.
Duff (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Led, headed after 2f, improved to lead again 1 1/2f out, ridden and kept on well final furlong, all out close home, won at Leopardstown 7f Grp 3 gd beating Dohasa (9-9) by nk, 9 ran.
Ialysos (GR) 14-1 (9-3) In rear stands side group, good headway over 1f out, stayed on to lead near finish, won at Haydock 5f Listed stks (1) gd in May beating Anglezarke (8-4) by nk, 11 ran.
Intrepid Jack 12-1 (9-0) In touch, ridden 2f out, chased winner in vain inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 4l behind J J The Jet Plane (9-7) at Windsor 6f Listed stks (1) gf.
J J The Jet Plane (SAF) 4-7fav (9-7) Made all, broke well, shaken up approaching furlong, ran on, won at Windsor 6f Listed stks (1) gf beating Intrepid Jack (9-0) by 4l, 6 ran.
King's Apostle (IRE) 16-1 (9-10) Behind, ridden well over 2f out, soon headway, stayed on inside final furlong, 2nd of 16, 3/4l behind Utmost Respect (9-7) at York 6f stks (1) gf in May.
Kingsgate Native (IRE) 4-1 (9-9) Behind, switched right and headway over 1f out, soon chasing winner, stayed on strongly, 3rd of 14, 1 1/2l behind Borderlescott (9-11) at Newmarket 5f stks (1) gd in Aug.
Regal Parade 13-2 (9-2) Mid-division, headway 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on well inside final furlong to lead final 75 yards, won at York 7f cond Stakes (3) gf in May beating Mia's Boy (9-2) by nk, 10 ran.
Sacred Kingdom (AUS) (8-13) won at Kranji(SNG) 6f Grp 1 gd in May beating Rocket Man (8-10) by nk, 14 ran.
Strike The Deal (USA) 10-11fav (9-4) Chased leaders, ridden to lead entering final furlong, ran on well under pressure, driven out, won at Lingfield 6f stks (3yo+) (3) pol in May beating Tamagin (9-4) by nk, 7 ran.
Lesson In Humility (IRE) 2-1fav (9-6) Chased leader, 2nd halfway, challenged entering straight, ridden to lead 1 1/2f out, kept on well final furlong, won at Leopardstown 6f fll stks G3 gf beating San Sicharia (9-9) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Art Connoisseur (IRE) 10-1 (9-7) Held up in rear, pulled hard, not clear run from 2f out until 1f out, eased inside final furlong, 7th of 10, 11l behind Ouqba (8-9) at Newmarket 7f lst hcp (1) gf in Apr.
Bushranger (IRE) 6-1 (9-5) Chased leaders, 3rd over 2f out, soon ridden, 4th and kept on same pace from over 1f out, 4th of 9, 5l behind Utmost Respect (10-0) at Curragh 6f Grp 3 hvy in May.
Takeover Target (AUS) (8-13) 8th of 14, 7l behind Sacred Kingdom (8-13) at Kranji(SNG) 6f Grp 1 gd in May.
