tracked leader, ridden to lead 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up, not clear run from 2f out, hung right approaching final furlong, get clear inside final furlong, ran on, nearest finish
raced wide close up, ridden to lead over 1f out, headed approaching final furlong, kept on one pace
steadied start held up in touch in rear, headway on outer 2f out, led approaching final furlong, edged right ridden and ran on
hung right throughout, tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened 2f out
soon led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on one pace
raced wide close up, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Having the saddled the winner of this Group 1 on seven previous occasions - with the likes of High Chaparral, Brian Boru, St Nicholas Abbey and Camelot - Aidan O'Brien clearly has a soft spot for the race. Johannes Vermeer won a Group 3 at Leopardstown last month and was only beaten a length-and-a-half in the Grand Criterium at Longchamp. Port Douglas made all in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh under Emmet McNamara, when beating better-fancied stablemates, so also enters calculations but Joseph rides Deauville. He was beaten under a length by FOUNDATION in the Royal Lodge at Newmarket last time but Frankie was able to ease his mount in the closing stages that day. That victory was all the more impressive considering the Gosden colt had raced freely in the closing stages and he can extend his unbeaten record here. Tony Curtis is no mug as he's been placed in a Group 2 and won a Listed race over a mile but he could find a few of these too hot to handle while Mengli Khan and Marcel would need to take a giant step forward to get involved.
Deauville (IRE) 11-8fav (9-0) Tracked leaders, outpaced over 2f out, soon ridden, stayed on to chase winner final 100 yards, always held, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Foundation (9-0) at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Foundation (IRE) 5-4fav (9-0) Raced keenly, tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, ridden to lead over 1f out, kept on well inside final furlong, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Deauville (9-0) by 3/4l, 6 ran.
Johannes Vermeer (IRE) 2-1fav (8-13) 4th of 11, 1 1/4l behind Ultra (8-13) at Longchamp 1m Grp 1 (1) gs in Oct.
Marcel (IRE) 7-4fav (9-5) Tracked leader, led 1f out, soon ridden, kept on well, won at Newcastle 7f mdn stks (4) gd in Aug beating Heir To A Throne (9-5) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Mengli Khan (IRE) 4-6fav (9-5) Tracked leaders, led 2f out, soon hung right, ran on, won at Nottingham 1m mdn stks (4) sft in Oct beating Across The Stars (9-5) by 3 1/4l, 12 ran.
Port Douglas (IRE) 14-1 (9-3) Led, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on, disputed again inside final furlong, led at line, won at Curragh 1m Grp 2 stks (1) Good - Yielding in Sep beating True Solitaire (9-3) by shd, 9 ran.
Tony Curtis 5-6fav (9-1) Broke well, soon restrained and tracking leaders, driven to lead well over 1f out, ran on well, won at Salisbury 1m lst stks (1) gd in Aug beating Opal Tiara (8-10) by 3 1/4l, 5 ran.
