led stand side pair and overall leader, groups merged halfway, headed over 1f out, faded final furlong
led centre pair until switched right to join stand side group at halfway, every chance over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong
raced centre, tracked leader, switched to join stand side group at halfway, led over 1f out, driven out, ran on well
Nonrunner
Both Mark Johnston and John Gosden have won this three times each in the last 10 years. The latter sends Dessertoflife, who has come up short in Listed company on a couple of occasions now, so CYMRIC gets the nod. A maiden winner at Sandown, the Godolphin charge has a string of fancy entries and may well be up to winning at this level. Proven form is supplied by Palawan and Twin Sails, who finished almost upsides when third and fourth respectively in the Group 2 Vintage Stakes at Goodwood. Maiden winners Fleeting Visit and Epsom Icon look to have tough tasks.
Palawan 16-1 (9-1) Bumped start, held up in rear, switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, hung left to stands rail inside final furlong, ran on, 3rd of 8, 3/4l behind Galileo Gold (9-1) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Twin Sails 8-1 (9-1) Went right start, mid-division, headway and switched right over 1f out, ridden and ran on inside final furlong, 4th of 8, 3/4l behind Galileo Gold (9-1) at Goodwood 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Jul.
Dessertoflife (IRE) 16-1 (9-0) Hampered start, held up in rear, headway on inside over 2f out, chased winner inside final furlong, kept on well, 2nd of 7, 2 1/4l behind Fireglow (9-0) at Sandown 7f lst fll stks (1) gf in Jul.
Epsom Icon 7-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 1f out, held on well towards finish, won at Epsom 7f mdn stks (5) gd in Jul beating Phantom Flipper (9-5) by 1 1/2l, 5 ran.
Cymric (USA) 5-2fav (9-5) Led after 1f, ridden over 1f out, challenged and found extra inside final furlong, won at Sandown 7f mdn stks (5) gf in Jul beating Massaat (9-5) by hd, 9 ran.
Fleeting Visit 9-4fav (9-5) Chased leaders, led over 2f out, stayed on well, eased towards finish, won at Chepstow 1m mdn stks (6) gd in Aug beating Mirsaalah (9-0) by 2l, 10 ran.
Eze (8-13) 4th of 9, 6 1/2l behind Sasparella (8-13) at Deauville 6f mdn stks sft in Jul.
