made all at good pace, increased tempo halfway, pushed clear inside final 3f, ridden well over 1f out, stayed on strongly, unchallenged
held up last, closer order 5f out, went modest 4th over 3f out, struggling over 2f out, dropped to last again over 1f out, tailed off
slowly into stride, took keen hold and soon recovered to track winner, pushed along and no impression inside final 3f, weakened to 3rd well over 1f out
took keen hold early, tracked leading pair until 4f out, soon outpaced in rear, went modest 4th again over 1f out
slowly into stride, took keen hold and held up in 4th, headway on outside to 3rd 4f out, disputing well held 2nd 2f out, went 2nd well over 1f out, no chance with unchallenged winner
The runner-up in last year's Derby, MAIN SEQUENCE was unlucky not to pick up a Group race later in the season when going close on a couple of occasions. David Lanigan's charge should be stronger this year and may have too much on his return to action for today's chief rivals Thomas Chippendale and Ektihaam. Less than a length separated that pair when they filled the places in the Gordon Richards Stakes at Sandown last month but the former is a course and distance winner and should confirm superiority in this. Highland Castle and Number Theory look up against it on today's terms with the former just preferred of the two.
Ektihaam (IRE) 10-3 (9-0) Raced keenly, tracked leader, led after 2f, ridden and headed over 1f out, held when slightly hampered 50 yards out, soon lost 2nd, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Al Kazeem (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Highland Castle 5-1 (8-9) Held up towards rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Voodoo Prince (8-9) at Ripon 1m 4f stks (3) gd in Apr.
Main Sequence (USA) 10-1 (9-0) Slowly away, in rear, effort over 2f out, kept on final furlong, no impression, 5th of 9, 6l behind Encke (9-0) at Doncaster 1m 7f 3yo Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Number Theory 9-1 (10-0) Held up towards rear, ridden over 1f out, headway entering final furlong, kept on towards finish, 7th of 12, 1l behind Sir Graham Wade (9-5) at Doncaster 1m 7f hcp (2) gd in Sep.
Thomas Chippendale (IRE) 3-1 (9-0) Held up in 6th, good headway on outside 3f out, stayed on to chase leading pair over 1f out, driven and went 2nd towards finish, no impression on winner, 2nd of 7, 1l behind Al Kazeem (9-0) at Sandown 1m 2f Grp 3 (1) gd in Apr.
Neuilly (10-6) 3rd of 6, 8l behind Sweet Liberta (10-12) at Les Landes(JER) 1m 4f hcap gd in Apr.
