Placed in the Derby before finishing second in the Irish equivalent, CRACKSMAN returned to winning ways with a six-length romp in the Great Voltigeur at York. Currently 8/1 for the Arc, John Gosden’s colt looks the one to beat in this. Finche landed a Group 2 over 1m2f for Andre Fabre in July and is preferred to stablemate Avilius while Ice Breeze also won a Group 2 contest over track and trip before beaten in the Grand Prix de Paris. German raider Walsingham looks up against it.
Finche (8-13) won at Maisons-Laffitte 1m 2f Grp 2 gd in Jul beating Afandem (8-13) by 1/2l, 8 ran.
Ice Breeze (9-2) 4th of 10, 2 1/4l behind Shakeel (9-2) at Saint-Cloud 1m 4f Grp 1 gd in Jul.
Avilius (9-2) 3rd of 8, 4 3/4l behind Eminent (9-2) at Deauville 1m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug.
Cracksman 4-6fav (9-0) Chased leaders, niggled along over 4f out, soon responded and quickened to lead over 3f out, ridden clear inside final 2f, stayed on strongly, eased close home, won at York 1m 4f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Aug beating Venice Beach (9-0) by 6l, 6 ran.
Walsingham (GER) Campanologist colt out of Winterkonigin.
