held up in touch, headway over 1f out, soon hard driven, kept on well, never able to challenge
in touch, headway over 2f out, soon hard ridden, ran on inside final furlong, led close home
raced in rear, under pressure over 3f out, soon no impression
chased leaders, ridden over 3f out, soon beaten
tracked leaders, effort over 2f out, soon under pressure and faded
always prominent, challenged on inside over 2f out, led over 1f out, flased tail under pressure, headed and no extra closing stages
awkward start, always behind
led, hung right when headed over 1f out, stayed on same pace
ZUIDER ZEE's form looks solid as a rock and he is taken to hand out a beating to Reality Show, Rawnaq and Arguam. Up 5lb for beating (subsequent dual winner) Bowdler's Magic at Chester, John Gosden's colt then ran with credit behind Harris Tweed in the Edinburgh Cup at Musselburgh. That form also looks solid and although his mini-break since might be a slight worry, there is little doubt that he looks a well-handicapped horse racing off 82. Reality Show ran well behind Trovare at Newmarket last week considering they gave the winner an easy lead and he is considered off a 3lb higher mark, Buffett has been expensive to follow and he needs to pull out more, whilst Rawnaq wasn't disgraced behind Dandino at Ascot in June and he is now 6lb lower than his original handicap mark; that looks an aberration by the handicapper. Ice Diva is consistent but she has stamina questions to answer, Woodford Belle beat nothing of note at Ffos Las but her confidence may have been boosted, whilst Arguam hasn't been seen since filling third at Wolverhampton on his reappearance. That form reads ok and this lightly-weighted son of Medicean is not one to ignore at the foot of the weights. A quality, and fascinating handicap, where the vote goes to Zuider Zee.
Reality Show (IRE) 5-1 (9-9) Tracked leader 4f, prominent, ridden over 2f out, stayed on under pressure inside final furlong, no impression on winner towards finish, 2nd of 5, 1l behind Trovare (9-6) at Newmarket 1m 5f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gf.
Zuider Zee (GER) 5-1 (7-13) Switched right soon after start, behind, headway on wide outside 3f out, ridden and kept on same pace final 2f, never on terms, 7th of 15, 10l behind Harris Tweed (8-3) at Musselburgh 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Buffett 9-2 (9-2) Held up in touch, driven and not quicken 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 5th of 8, 8l behind Beachfire (9-7) at Sandown 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-85 (4) gf.
Rawnaq (IRE) 33-1 (8-3) Held up in rear, some headway on inside from well over 1f out, never in contention, 10th of 18, 9l behind Dandino (8-13) at Royal Ascot 1m 4f 3yo hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Ice Diva 4-1 (9-4) Tracked leading pair, 2nd 3f out, challenged and every chance 2f out, chased winner from well over 1f out, no impression final furlong, 2nd of 8, 4 1/2l behind Madhaaq (9-0) at Newbury 1m 2f 3yo fll hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Woodford Belle (USA) 9-1 (8-8) Chased leaders, outpaced over 3f out, headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, stayed on well, won at Ffos Las 1m 4f mdn auc stks (5) gf beating Western Pearl (8-1) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Strong Vigilance (IRE) 9-2 (9-5) In rear, ridden and carried head high 3f out, kept on final furlong, did not look resolute, 4th of 7, 11l behind If I Were A Boy (8-13) at Epsom Downs 1m 2f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) gd.
Argaum (IRE) 7-2fav (8-13) Led, joined 3f out, pushed along soon after, headed over 1f out, one pace when carried right inside final furlong, weakened into 3rd near finish, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Azlak (9-1) at Wolverhampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp 0-80 (4) pol in Apr.
