led until over 2f out, weakened inside final 2f
held up in mid-division, headway and switched left to outside over 2f out, 2nd entering final 2f, soon challenging and every chance until ridden and no extra inside final furlong
tracked leaders, pushed along and every chance over 2f out, ridden and weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, weakened over 2f out
steadied and switched right start, held up in rear, headway over 2f out, hung right and no impression from 2f out
tracked leader, ridden to lead over 2f out, headed 2f out, soon lost 2nd, chased leading pair until ridden over 1f out, weakened final furlong
held up towards rear, headway on outside chasing leaders over 2f out, went 3rd over 1f out, never going pace to challenge
took keen hold early and soon steadied towards rear, never on terms after, ridden and beaten over 2f out
raced wide in mid-division, pushed along chasing leaders over 3f out, led 2f out, soon strongly pressed, stayed on gamely to assert inside final furlong
mid-division, lost place and behind final 4f, tailed off, eased
Journey, runner-up to Simple Verse in 2015, went one better in impressive fashion a year ago. John Gosden's mare has had just three subsequent starts and looked to be coming back to her best in the Prix Vermeille at Chantilly, though was beaten fair and square by BATEEL (NAP) with Left Hand in third. The winner, who finished last of 13 in this last year when trained by David Simcock, has improved out of all recognition and her Chantilly victory stamped her as a mare of the highest quality. Gosden also runs Coronet, who had seen Enable disappearing out of sight three times this campaign before finding 1m6f beyond her in the St Leger, and The Black Princess, who got a shocking run in the Vermeille then found 1m2f too short in the Prix de L'Opera where Hydrangea ran a fine race to finish second with Left Hand fifth. Aidan O'Brien's first string steps up to this trip for the first time and it would be no shock to see her there at the finish.
Alyssa 25-1 (9-5) Made all, ridden over 2f out, soon pressed, held on close home, won at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 2 fll stks (1) sft in Sep beating Aljezeera (8-9) by 1/2l, 10 ran.
Bateel (IRE) (9-3) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gd in Sep beating Journey (9-3) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Journey (9-3) 2nd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Bateel (9-3) at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 1 stks gd in Sep.
Left Hand 11-1 (9-2) 5th of 14, 3/4l behind Rhododendron (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 fll gs in Oct.
The Black Princess (FR) (9-2) 7th of 14, 3 1/2l behind Rhododendron (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 fll gs in Oct.
The Juliet Rose (FR) (9-1) won at Chantilly 1m 4f Grp 2 fll sft in Sep beating Listen In (8-8) by shd, 8 ran.
Coronet 8-1 (8-12) Held up mid-division, headway over 3f out to chase leaders, ridden inside final furlong, weakened towards finish, 5th of 11, 3 1/4l behind Capri (9-1) at Doncaster 1m 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Horseplay (8-11) 4th of 11, 2 1/4l behind Strathspey (8-11) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 2 gd in Jul.
Hydrangea (IRE) 11-2 (8-11) 2nd of 14, hd behind Rhododendron (8-11) at Chantilly 1m 2f Grp 1 fll gs in Oct.
Wild Irish Rose (IRE) 2-1 (8-9) In rear, headway approaching straight, soon pushed along on outer and closed to chase winner, no extra and kept on same pace inside final furlong, 3rd of 4, 8l behind Renneti (9-8) at Naas 2m Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Sep.
