tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, clear with leader over 2f out, every chance and edged left inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
close up, ridden when weakened over 1f out
in rear, headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance inside final furlong, slightly hampered and not quicken towards finish
in touch, ridden 2f out, not trouble leaders
held up, ridden 2f out, never on terms
keen tracked leader, ridden over 3f out, weakened over 2f out
in touch, headway to chase clear leading pair 2f out, ridden to lead and edged left inside final furlong, ran on
held up, pushed along and headway over 1f out, ridden and every chance when hampered inside final furlong, ran on
steadied and switched right start, always in rear
in touch, headway to chase clear leading pair 2f out, weakened final furlong
led, quickened pace and clear with one other over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, edged left and headed inside final furlong, stayed on
Aidan O’Brien has a fine record in this and Saxon Warrior beat Roaring Lion in last year’s high-class renewal. The Irish trainer runs three today including leading contender Magna Grecia, narrowly beaten in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes at Newmarket last time with today’s stablemates Circus Maximus back in third and Western Australia well beaten. But Acomb Stakes winner PHOENIX OF SPAIN (NAP) found only the subsequent Group 1 Dewhurst winner Too Darn Hot too good in the Champagne Stakes over 7f here last month and Charles Hills’ colt gets the nod on the strength of that form. Kuwait Currency has plenty to find with the selection on running in the Champagne while Great Scot is a Listed winner and may prove too strong for the Gosden duo and novice winners Turgenev and Kick On. Only a neck separated Raakib Alhawa and Dashing Willoughby when the former won at Newbury while King Ottokar made a winning debut in novice company at Newbury and could be anything.
Circus Maximus (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead 2f out, headed and short of room entering final furlong, kept on one pace, 3rd of 8, 3 1/4l behind Persian King (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Oct.
Dashing Willoughby 9-2 (9-1) Chased leaders, led 2f out, ridden and strongly pressed over 1f out, hung left and headed inside final furlong, kept on, 2nd of 7, nk behind Raakib Alhawa (8-12) at Newbury 1m stks (2) gs in Sep.
Great Scot 13-8fav (9-2) Pulled hard early, tracked leaders, every chance over 1f out, ridden to lead approaching final furlong,pushed out, won at Haydock 1m lst stks (1) hvy in Sep beating Floating Artist (9-2) by 2l, 5 ran.
Kick On 11-2 (9-0) Made all, pushed along and ran on, won at Newmarket 1m mdn stks (4) gd in Sep beating Humanitarian (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 18 ran.
King Ottokar (FR) 9-2 (9-2) Chased leaders, led approaching final furlong, just held on, all out, won at Newbury 7f stks (4) sft in Sep beating Raise You (9-2) by ns, 13 ran.
Kuwait Currency (USA) 50-1 (9-1) In touch in rear, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, never near leaders, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind Too Darn Hot (9-1) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gf in Oct.
Magna Grecia (IRE) 3-1 (9-1) Close up, headway on outer over 2f out, ridden and every chance from over 1f out, duelled with winner inside final furlong until close home, 2nd of 8, nk behind Persian King (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Oct.
Phoenix Of Spain (IRE) 8-1 (9-0) Tracked front pair, headway and close up 3f out, effort 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, kept on but no match for winner inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 1 3/4l behind Too Darn Hot (9-0) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep.
Raakib Alhawa (IRE) 25-1 (8-12) Held up and behind, steady headway far side of group over 2f out, soon chasing leaders, switched left over 1f out, stayed on to lead inside final furlong, pushed out, won at Newbury 1m stks (2) gs in Sep beating Dashing Willoughby (9-1) by nk, 7 ran.
Turgenev 10-11fav (9-8) Chased leaders, progress to lead over 3f out, driven clear over 1f out, easily, won at Newmarket 1m stks (4) gd in Oct beating Il Paradiso (9-2) by 1 1/2l, 12 ran.
Western Australia (IRE) 12-1 (9-1) Tracked leader, pushed along over 3f out, led over 2f out, ridden and headed 2f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 8, 6 1/2l behind Persian King (9-1) at Newmarket 1m Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Oct.
