Princess Zoe hasn’t won since beating Alkuin, Call The Wind and Cacophonous in last year’s renewal. But she finished runner-up in the Ascot Gold Cup in June and will relish any further rain. Stradivarius has returned to his best after a blip at Ascot but ran below par in testing going at the same track behind TRUESHAN in last year’s Long Distance Cup. Alan King’s charge also had the measure of Emperor Of The Sun when landing the Goodwood Cup last time and a bold bid is expected from him. Stratum won the Queen Alexandra on soft going in June and can make his presence felt while Group 2 winner Skazino can also figure if lasting home and is preferred to Bubble Smart of the home team.
Stratum 11-1 (9-3) Raced in 3rd, ridden over 3f out, soon outpaced, last of 4, 20 1/4l behind Stradivarius (9-3) at York 2m Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Emperor Of The Sun (IRE) 10-1 (9-11) Chased leaders, moderate 4th halfway, ridden in 5th but closer 3f out, under pressure 2f out, kept on one pace, 5th of 13, 6 3/4l behind Sonnyboyliston (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 1 (1) gd in Sep.
Max La Fripouille (FR) (9-3) 10th of 16, 7 1/4l behind Burning Victory (9-7) at Deauville 2m hcp gd in Aug.
Karlstad (FR) (9-1) 2nd of 7, 1l behind Bubble Smart (8-11) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 gs in Sep.
Cacophonous (9-5) 12th of 16, 11 3/4l behind Bubble Smart (8-12) at Vichy 1m 7f hcp sft in Jul.
Skazino (FR) (9-6) won at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 stks gs in Aug beating Rip Van Lips (9-6) by hd, 6 ran.
Stradivarius (IRE) 4-11fav (9-8) Close up in 4th but 6 lengths off the pace, closed on leaders 4f out, shaken up to lead over 1f out, ran on, eased towards finish, won at Doncaster 2m 2f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Sep beating Alerta Roja (8-4) by 2 1/2l, 6 ran.
Alkuin (IRE) (9-4) last of 6, 4 1/4l behind Skazino (9-6) at Deauville 1m 7f Grp 2 stks gs in Aug.
Trueshan (FR) 6-5fav (9-9) Held up in touch, keen early, moved to chase leader 6f out, travelled strongly to lead on near rail over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, narrow advantage entering final furlong, drew clear close home, won at Goodwood 2m Grp 1 (1) sft in Jul beating Away He Goes (9-9) by 3 3/4l, 8 ran.
Call The Wind (9-1) 3rd of 7, 2 1/2l behind Bubble Smart (8-11) at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 gs in Sep.
Memphis (GER) (9-0) won at Hoppegarten 1m 6f lst stks gd in Aug beating Alerta Roja (8-0) by 1l, 10 ran.
Princess Zoe (GER) 10-3 (9-8) Chased leaders, 3rd on inner and briefly short of room 2 1/2f out, ridden 2f out, no impression on winner in 3rd 1f out, 2nd close home, 2nd of 9, 1 3/4l behind Twilight Payment (9-11) at Curragh 1m 6f Grp 3 stks (1) Yielding in Aug.
Bubble Smart (8-11) Chased leaders, ridden 2f out, one paced, won at ParisLongchamp 1m 7f Grp 3 gs in Sep beating Karlstad (9-1) by 1l, 7 ran.
