in touch, headway entering final furlong, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
raced wide close up, ridden and weakened over 2f out
switched right start, held up in rear, wide and headway over 2f out, ridden and kept on same pace from over 1f out
led, ridden and headed approaching final furlong, weakened inside final furlong
dwelt keen tracked leaders, led approaching final furlong, ridden and headed inside final furlong, stayed on
tracked leader, pushed along over 2f out, weakened final furlong
close up, ridden and headway entering final furlong, stayed on towards finish
towards rear, ridden and headway entering final furlong, nearest finish
in rear, ridden 2f out, never nearer
A high-class renewal of this Group 1 which sees Laurens attempt to repeat her victory of 12 months ago in her racecourse swansong. Karl Burke’s four-year-old ran her usual brave race in the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown last month but couldn’t cope with the younger Iridessa and HERMOSA. Joseph O’Brien’s filly came out best that day but by less than a length and it was the Ballydoyle runner who had been victorious when the pair clashed in the 1000 Guineas in May. She later confirmed the form in the Irish 1000 Guineas and is fancied to reverse recent placings back on this more galloping track. Veracious beat I Can Fly in the Falmouth Stakes on the July course over the summer but that looked a sub-standard Group 1. Last year’s 1000 Guineas heroine Billesdon Brook has won twice this season but was well behind Laurens and I Can Fly in the Lockinge in the spring. Lavender's Blue easily won a Sandown Group 3 in August but this is a much tougher assignment.
Billesdon Brook 12-1 (9-3) Held up towards rear of mid-division, headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, ran on inside final furlong, led towards finish, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) gd in Aug beating Perfection (9-3) by nk, 17 ran.
Crown Walk (8-9) 4th of 10, 3 1/4l behind Skalleti (8-12) at Deauville 1m Grp 3 gd in Aug.
I Can Fly 6-1 (9-5) Slowly into stride, in rear, pushed along over 2f out, some headway to chase leaders and no impression over 1f out, one pace, 5th of 7, 7 1/4l behind Iridessa (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Laurens (FR) Evensfav (9-5) Soon led, pushed along into straight, joined 2f out, soon headed, no extra and one pace inside final furlong, 4th of 7, 2 3/4l behind Iridessa (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Veracious 6-1 (9-7) Made all, ridden over 1f out, just held on, won at Newmarket 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gf in Jul beating One Master (9-7) by nk, 6 ran.
Hermosa (IRE) 7-2 (9-0) Raced in 2nd, pushed along before straight, on terms 2f out, soon led, narrowly headed inside final furlong, kept on without matching winner, just held on for 2nd, 2nd of 7, 3/4l behind Iridessa (9-0) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Iridessa (IRE) 10-1 (9-0) Tracked leaders, pushed along over 2f out, wandered slightly and gained narrow lead inside final furlong, stayed on well, won at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep beating Hermosa (9-0) by 3/4l, 7 ran.
Lavender's Blue (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Tracked leaders on inside, looking for room over 1f out, squeezed through to lead inside final furlong, quickened clear, won at Sandown 1m Grp 3 fll stks (1) gf in Aug beating Duneflower (8-12) by 1 1/2l, 8 ran.
Madeleine Must (FR) (8-9) won at ParisLongchamp 1m lst stks gd in Sep beating Richmond Avenue (8-13) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
