soon led, pushed along 2f out, ridden inside final furlong, headed towards finish
close up, lost place over 2f out, switched left over 1f out, ridden and ran on strongly to lead towards finish
keen in touch, wide and headway over 2f out, ridden and every chance over 1f out, weakened final furlong
led early, tracked leaders, not clear run from over 1f out, kept on one pace
in touch in rear, switched left over 2f out, headway over 1f out, ridden to chase leader when edged right inside final furlong, not quicken towards finish
tracked leader, pushed along 4f out, eased from 2f out
raced wide close up, ridden and headway 2f out, weakened inside final furlong
A cracking renewal of this Group 1 which features the winners of both the 2000 Guineas and the Irish 2000 Guineas. Reverting to a mile after his fourth in the Derby, Newmarket hero Kameko may prove a better bet than the unbeaten Siskin, though Ger Lyons’ colt showed a nice turn of foot to beat Vatican City at the Curragh. Wichita was only beaten a neck by Kameko at HQ and ran well again in the St James’s Palace Stakes so is no forlorn hope while Aidan O’Brein also runs the Queen Anne winner Circus Maximus. MOHAATHER was repeatedly denied an opening in that latter Ascot contest but made no mistake in a Group 2 on that track next time, easily beating San Donato, and has moved up a level this year. Marcus Tregoning’s four-year-old can grab this valuable prize.
Circus Maximus (IRE) 4-1fav (9-0) Prominent, ridden and every chance over 1f out, ran on to lead post, won at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gs in Jun beating Terebellum (8-11) by hd, 15 ran.
Mohaather 2-1fav (9-1) Held up in mid-division, waited with until good headway on outside travelling strongly 2f out, quickened to lead 1f out, soon clear, quite impressive, won at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul beating San Donato (9-1) by 3 3/4l, 11 ran.
San Donato (IRE) 14-1 (9-1) Held up towards rear, switched left and headway on outside well over 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, went 2nd near finish, never any chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3 3/4l behind Mohaather (9-1) at Ascot 1m Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Jul.
Kameko (USA) 5-2fav (9-0) Sweating, raced keenly in 5th, 4th and pushed along straight, ridden 2f out, kept on final furlong, almost snatched 3rd, never going pace to challenge, 4th of 16, 6l behind Serpentine (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Siskin (USA) 2-1fav (9-2) Held up in mid-division on rail, switched left and progress between horses 1 1/2f out, ridden into 2nd 1f out, challenged inside final furlong, led last 100 yards, kept on strongly close home, won at Curragh 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun beating Vatican City (9-2) by 1 3/4l, 11 ran.
Vatican City (IRE) 17-2 (9-0) Held up off the pace in mid-division, 13th and struggling straight, plugged on final furlong, never a factor, 8th of 16, 8 3/4l behind Serpentine (9-0) at Epsom 1m 4f Grp 1 (1) gd in Jul.
Wichita (IRE) 9-4 (9-0) Raced wide early, tracked leader until went on 6f out, pushed along and joined 2f out, ridden and headed 100 yards out, no extra towards finish, 3rd of 7, 1 1/4l behind Palace Pier (9-0) at Ascot 1m Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Jun.
