A winner at the highest level in France last year, SPACE BLUES returned to winning ways in Group 2 company York last time. Soft ground is not a problem and Charlie Appleby’s charge can reverse earlier running in the Lennox Stakes at Goodwood with the winner Kinross. The latter has been beaten subsequently but Pearls Galore missed out by only a neck in a Group 1 at Leopardstown recently and is preferred to compatriots Thunder Moon and Njord on that form. Duhail is hard to catch right while stablemate Tropbeau, Speak Of The Devil and Entscheiden all finished behind Sagamiyra in a trial over track and trip three weeks ago. Last Empire, Onassis and Rhythm Master have it all to do at this level.
Duhail (IRE) (9-6) 2nd of 12, 1 1/4l behind Garrus (9-2) at Deauville 6f Grp 3 gd in Aug.
Njord (IRE) 8-1 (9-10) Mid-division, short of room briefly in 6th 2f out, soon ridden, 7th 1f out, kept on inside final furlong, 4th of 14, 1l behind Real Appeal (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Kinross (9-4) 5th of 12, 3 1/4l behind Marianafoot (9-4) at Deauville 6f Grp 1 gs in Aug.
Current Option (IRE) 40-1 (9-10) Mid-division, ridden in 7th entering straight, weakened final furlong, 13th of 14, 4 1/2l behind Real Appeal (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
Space Blues (IRE) 11-8fav (9-6) Towards rear, prominent and going well over 2f out, smooth headway to lead over 1f out, kept on well, always doing enough, won at York 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gd in Aug beating Highfield Princess (9-3) by 1 1/2l, 9 ran.
Entscheiden (JPN) (9-2) 5th of 10, 1 1/4l behind Sagamiyra (8-12) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Colosseo (USA) (8-13) 5th of 9, 2 1/4l behind Bellharbour Music (8-13) at Deauville 1m Grp 3 stks gs in Aug.
Erasmo (9-3) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Rhythm Master (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Wore hood to post, tracked leader until ridden 2f out, ridden hung right and bumped over 1f out, weakened soon after, 5th of 6, 5l behind Glorious Journey (9-4) at Doncaster 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gs in Sep.
Sagamiyra (FR) (8-12) won at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep beating Axdavali (8-12) by 1l, 10 ran.
Tropbeau (8-12) 8th of 10, 2 3/4l behind Sagamiyra (8-12) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Last Empire 16-1 (9-3) Tracked leader 2f, handy 3rd, led over 1f out, driven and ran on well, won at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 fll stks (1) sft in Jul beating Onassis (9-3) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Pearls Galore (FR) 7-1 (9-7) Chased leaders, ridden in 5th 2f out, 4th 1f out, headway into 2nd inside final furlong, kept on close home, 2nd of 13, nk behind No Speak Alexander (9-2) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 1 fll stks (1) gd in Sep.
Speak Of The Devil (FR) (8-12) 3rd of 10, 1 1/4l behind Sagamiyra (8-12) at ParisLongchamp 7f Grp 3 stks gd in Sep.
Onassis (IRE) 15-2 (9-0) Held up in last, pushed along 3f out, ridden 2f out, stayed on final furlong, 4th of 6, 4 1/2l behind Toro Strike (9-3) at Goodwood 7f Grp 3 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Thunder Moon (IRE) 5-1 (9-5) Mid-division on inner, ridden 2f out, close 5th 1f out, no extra final furlong, 9th of 14, 2 1/4l behind Real Appeal (9-10) at Leopardstown 1m Grp 2 (1) gd in Sep.
