A fiendishly difficult sprint to call with none easily dismissed. The Europeans all have a shout with French-trained Karar chasing home Limato at Chantilly last time and Aidan O’Brien bullish about the chances of Washington DC while Godolphin’s Home Of The Brave won a Group 3 at Haydock over 7f and today’s trip will likely suit. Mongolian Saturday won last year’s renewal at Keeneland when ahead of Undrafted but is probably best at the latter track while Om, Obviously and Celestine all drop down from a mile, though the latter pair have bags of early speed. A Lot ran his best race to date when second at Saratoga last time and was not far behind the in-form Pure Sensation before that. But Holy Lute and AMBITIOUS BREW won their respective divisions of a Grade 3 trial over track and trip in September with a speculative vote going to the latter here as Martin Jones’ charge seems to save his best for this downhill course.
Pure Sensation (USA) 85-40fav (8-12) 3w upper, gamely, won at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Oct beating Power Alert (8-10) by hd, 9 ran.
Obviously (IRE) Evensfav (8-9) 3wd,inside,gamely, 3rd of 10, 1l behind Vyjack (8-9) at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct.
Mongolian Saturday (USA) 17-4fav (8-8) Tracked, cleared, held, won at Keeneland 5f stks gd in Oct beating Hogy (8-8) by 1/2l, 12 ran.
Home Of The Brave (IRE) 7-4fav (9-6) Led, ridden inside final 2f, headed inside final furlong, stayed on same pace, 2nd of 6, 1l behind Richard Pankhurst (9-6) at Newbury 7f Grp 2 stks (1) gf in Aug.
Karar 40-1 (9-2) 2nd of 12, 3l behind Limato (9-2) at Chantilly 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Calgary Cat (USA) 15-1 (8-5) 3-4w turn,up at wire, won at Woodbine 6f stks gd in Oct beating Stacked Deck (8-7) by hd, 8 ran.
Washington Dc (IRE) 10-1 (9-10) 2nd of 17, 3/4l behind Marsha (9-7) at Chantilly 5f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
A Lot (USA) 11-2 (8-4) Bmp aft st,ins 6f,splt, 2nd of 6, 1 1/4l behind Tourist (8-6) at Saratoga 1m stks gd in Aug.
Ambitious Brew (USA) 11-2 (8-9) 4wd into str,cleared, won at Santa Anita 6f stks gd in Sep beating Richard's Boy (8-9) by 1 3/4l, 10 ran.
Undrafted (USA) 9-2 (8-12) Wheeled out, belatedly, 6th of 12, 3l behind Mongolian Saturday (8-8) at Keeneland 5f stks gd in Oct.
Om (USA) 13-5 (8-11) Bid btwn late,game, 2nd of 10, 1/2l behind Vyjack (8-9) at Santa Anita 1m stks gd in Oct.
Holy Lute (USA) 10-1 (8-9) Rail bid,led,clear, won at Santa Anita 6f stks gd in Oct beating Boozer (8-9) by 1 1/4l, 11 ran.
Celestine (USA) 33-10 (8-12) 3path 1/4, flattened, 3rd of 10, 6 1/4l behind Photo Call (8-12) at Keeneland 1m stks gd in Oct.
Green Mask (USA) 4-1 (8-10) Stumbled st, gd energy, 3rd of 9, 3/4l behind Pure Sensation (8-12) at Belmont Park 6f stks gd in Oct.
Suedois (FR) 8-1 (9-2) 3rd of 12, 3 1/2l behind Limato (9-2) at Chantilly 7f Grp 1 gd in Oct.
Lady Shipman (USA) 16-10fav (8-10) Saved ground to lane, 6th of 10, 6 1/4l behind Ambitious Brew (8-9) at Santa Anita 6f stks gd in Sep.
