broke well, tracked leaders, always going well, ridden to lead 1f out, ran on
reared leaving stalls, mid-division, effort 3f out, no impression
mid-division and keen, ridden over 2f out, hampered 2f out, hung left from over 1f out
in rear, headway on outside 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f, one pace inside final furlong
in rear, never going
mid-division, headway 4f out, ridden to chase leaders over 2f out, one pace
soon led, ridden over 1f out, fading when headed 1f out
in touch, ridden 2f out, ran on to chase winner well inside final furlong
prominent, ridden 3f out, soon weakened
in touch, hampered when losing place over 2f out
With Lygeton Lad employed to make the pace, Vortex should have the race set up nicely for him, and he can beat Autumn Glory, Court Masterpiece, Akimbo and Chic in this Group 3 contest. Gay Kelleway has always been adamant that Vortex is Group class, and that faith was vindicated when the six-year-old came through to beat Court Masterpiece in the Criterion Stakes at Newmarket last month. Although slightly worse off at the weights with that rival now, his trainer believes that the return to this surface, and the step up in trip will make him the one to beat here, and just to make sure they do not dawdle, she has put in Lygeton Lad as the hare. Court Masterpiece has yet to race on the Polytrack but does all of his homework on a similar surface so there is no worry on that score, but he has yet to gain a Group success and may just be found wanting again. Autumn Glory went down all guns blazing at Longchamp last time but will find this surface plenty fast enough, while Akimbo is on the upgrade and ran with credit to be fifth in the Queen Anne. Chic meanwhile has been kept in training rather than be sent to the paddocks, and can line up without a penalty as her Group wins last term were before the September cut-off point. In receipt of the three-pound fillies allowance, she could easily take a hand if fit enough. Of the rest, Eccentric always goes well here, and may well help Lygeton Lad to force the pace. That will just help Vortex even more, and he can mow them down on the outside from stall 11.
Autumn Glory (IRE) 2-1 (9-2) Prominent, led over 1f out, headed near finish, 2nd of 7, 1/2l behind Artiste Royal (8-12) at Longchamp 1m Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun.
Jack Sullivan (USA) 12-1 (9-0) In touch; 4th & ridden straight; headway final 400m; stayed on same pace, 4th of 12, 9l behind Roses In May (9-0) at Nad Al Sheba 1m 2f Grp 1 std in Mar.
Mac Love 50-1 (9-0) Dwelt and behind, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, 4th of 10, 6l behind Valixir (9-0) at York 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Vortex 16-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, soon every chance, led post, won at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun beating Court Masterpiece (9-2) by a shd, 8 ran.
Akimbo (USA) 20-1 (9-0) In touch, pushed along 3f out, ridden over 2f out, edged right over 1f out, no extra inside final furlong, 5th of 10, 7l behind Valixir (9-0) at York 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Babodana 66-1 (9-0) Prominent, pushed along over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, weakened final furlong, 8th of 10, 17l behind Valixir (9-0) at York 1m Grp 1 (1) gf in Jun.
Bahiano (IRE) 8-1 (9-1) Mid-division, headway over 2f out, ridden to chase leaders over 1f out, stayed on, 4th of 23, 3l behind Jedburgh (9-8) at York 7f hcp 0-105 (2) gf in Jun.
Court Masterpiece 10-3 (9-2) Held up in touch, ridden to lead inside final furlong, headed post, 2nd of 8, shd behind Vortex (9-2) at Newmarket 7f Grp 3 (1) gd in Jun.
Eccentric 8-1 (8-2) Pulled hard, tracked leader, ridden to lead inside final 2f, stayed on strongly final furlong, driven out, won at Epsom 1m 2f hcp (2) gd in Jun beating Realism (7-12) by 3/4l, 17 ran.
Lygeton Lad 9-2jt-fav (9-2) Mid-division, ridden over 2f out, weakened over 1f out, 9th of 12, 9l behind Grey Boy (9-3) at Nottingham 1m hcp (5) gd.
Pentecost 14-1 (9-7) In touch, ridden over 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 5th of 17, 3 1/2l behind Ace of Hearts (8-9) at Sandown 1m hcp (2) gf.
Chic 9-4fav (9-0) Held up, headway over 2f out, every chance entering final furlong, unable to quicken, 2nd of 5, nk behind Attraction (8-11) at Newmarket 1m fll stks Grp 1 (A1) gd in Oct.
