held up towards rear, hampered 6f out, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
prominent far side of group, chased leader 2f, ridden to lead inside final furlong, ran on
towards rear, pushed along 3f out, not trouble leaders
prominent, ridden 2f out, kept on one pace
in touch, ridden and weakened 2f out
hampered start, towards rear, ridden and headway approaching final furlong, ran on
led, ridden and hung left over 1f out, headed inside final furlong
in touch, pushed along 2f out, weakened final furlong
keen in touch, ridden and weakened over 1f out
pulled hard, tracked leaders, hung left 6f out, pushed along over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
keen in touch, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace
keen in touch, hampered 6f out, headway 2f out, ridden and stayed on final furlong
keen, held up in rear, ridden and headway over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong
went left start, tracked leaders, pushed along 3f out, weakened over 1f out
Aidan O’Brien has won this a record 10 times. Little Big Bear has plenty of stamina in his pedigree despite demolishing his rivals over 6f in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes, though it’s stablemate Auguste Rodin that has been the subject of sustained ante-post support. The Futurity winner may well prove good enough but another Group 1 winner in CHALDEAN is preferred. Andrew Balding’s colt unseated Frankie at the start on last month’s reappearance but beat Royal Scotsman to land the Dewhurst over 7f here in October having earlier beaten the subsequent Craven Stakes winner Indestructible and Silver Knott at Doncaster. The latter won the Autumn Stakes over track and trip, as did stablemate and last year’s winner Coroebus, while the other Godolphin colt Noble Style landed the Gimcrack at York to remain unbeaten, though steps up in distance along with the Mill Reef winner Sakheer. David Egan prefers the latter to Greenham runner-up Charyn while Dubai Mile ended last season with a Group 1 success over a longer trip in France.
Auguste Rodin (IRE) 9-4fav (9-3) Tracked leaders stand side, headway to lead this group 2f out, led overall approaching final furlong, ran on impressive, won at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in Oct beating Epictetus (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 8 ran.
Chaldean 5-4fav (9-2) Wore hood to post, distracted by rival then jinked left and unseated rider leaving stalls, at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Apr.
Charyn (IRE) 14-1 (9-2) Chased leaders, went 2nd over 2f out, stayed on same pace final furlong, no chance with winner, 2nd of 11, 3l behind Isaac Shelby (9-2) at Newbury 7f Grp 3 stks (1) sft in Apr.
Dubai Mile (IRE) (8-13) won at Saint-Cloud 1m 2f Grp 1 stks hvy in Oct beating Arrest (8-13) by hd, 9 ran.
Flight Plan 13-2 (9-4) Mid-division, headway 3f out, led over 1f out, edged slightly left and headed well inside final furlong, held towards finish, 2nd of 11, nk behind Dear My Friend (9-4) at Newcastle 1m lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
Galeron (IRE) 12-1 (9-4) Held up in rear, effort over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on, went 3rd towards finish, 3rd of 11, 2 1/2l behind Dear My Friend (9-4) at Newcastle 1m lst stks (1) pol in Apr.
Hi Royal (IRE) 9-2 (9-8) In touch, pushed along over 2f out, ridden and headway over 1f out, kept on same pace final furlong, 4th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Majestic Pride (9-8) at Newmarket 7f stks (2) sft in Apr.
Holloway Boy 9-2 (9-3) In touch in rear far side, headway over 2f out, led overall 2f out, soon hung badly right to stand side group, headed approaching final furlong, no extra and lost 2nd towards finish, 3rd of 8, 5 1/4l behind Auguste Rodin (9-3) at Doncaster 1m Grp 1 stks (1) hvy in Oct.
Indestructible (IRE) 8-1 (9-2) Keen tracked leader, switched left away from main group halfway, pushed along to lead 2f out, ridden and headed over 1f out, rallied to lead again inside final furlong, ran on, won at Newmarket 1m stks (1) gd in Apr beating The Foxes (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 7 ran.
Little Big Bear (IRE) 13-8 (9-5) Made all, pressed 2f out, pushed along and asserted over 1f out, over 2 lengths lead 1f out, ridden and drew further clear final 150 yards, easily, impressive, won at Curragh 6f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Persian Force (9-5) by 7l, 5 ran.
Noble Style 3-1 (9-2) Held up in rear, headway from 2f out, edged left from over 1f out, led inside final furlong, ran on well, won at York 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Marshman (9-2) by 1 1/4l, 12 ran.
Royal Scotsman (IRE) 12-1 (9-3) Quickly away, soon restrained in midfield, headway over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, ran on to go second inside final furlong, ran on well, 2nd of 7, hd behind Chaldean (9-3) at Newmarket 7f Grp 1 stks (1) gd in Oct.
Sakheer (IRE) 4-5fav (9-3) Prominent, headway 2f out to join leader, pushed along and soon led, won going away, impressive, won at Newbury 6f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Sep beating Rousing Encore (9-3) by 3 1/2l, 7 ran.
Silver Knott 7-5fav (8-10) Slw st,ins,slip1/8,led, 2nd of 14, shd behind Victoria Road (8-10) at Keeneland 1m gd in Nov.
