Expert Analysis

A superior winner – the best sinceLimato ran to 122 in victory in 2016 – and a largely satisfactory result, the pace a good one but Space Blues, and to a lesser extent Kinross, still doing well to come from some way back, the race finishing speed (after adjustment for the fact that 1400m races here are short of the advertised distance) around 101%. There is a chance that coming wide was a small but meaningful advantage in later races on the day, the runner-up nearer to the inside than the other principals.

SPACE BLUES (118+ here, 117 previously) is a splendid performer and seemingly even better than ever, held up some way off the pace going well, only really asked for his effort with 250m to go, quickening superbly to lead with 100m to run and comfortably on top at the line. He has become a bit of a 6.5f/7f specialist but switches off so well he may be worth another go at 8f, other than in a slog, while he has the raw speed to cope with 6f, for all that he’s run poorly at the trip to date. He is also not far behind the best around at both those trips, and is just about top dog at this one. 

PEARLS GALORE (110 here and previously) confirmed the form of second in a muddling Matron Stakes the time before and was at home at this short 7f, close up and nosing ahead briefly around 300m out, rallying at the line. She is undoubtedly smart.

ENTSCHEIDEN (111 here, ? previously) outran his odds and briefly looked as if he might win, wide and always close up and ridden to lead 300m out, no extra only late on.

KINROSS (108+ here, 113 previously) was better than the result and remains in form, set a lot to do and initially failing to respond when asked after halfway, finishing strongly and wide if not quite as strongly as the winner. 

SAGAMIYRA (103 here, 108 previously) was not discredited but might have been better asked for her effort a bit sooner given she has form at 8f and usually finds plenty, on the bridle just behind the leaders for a long way but unable to quicken.

SPEAK OF THE DEVIL (99 here, 108 previously) did herself no favours by starting slowly, never quite on terms.

CURRENT OPTION (102 here, 107 previously) is running just respectably at present, close up much of the way.

TROPBEAU (98 here, 108 previously) stuck to the inside and never really looked like getting out of mid-field, running just about respectably all the same.

LAST EMPIRE (98 here, 106 previously) had it on up in grade and dropped away after cutting out the early running.

DUHAIL (99 here, 112 previously) ran a rare poor race, possibly unsettled by being hampered by Sagamiyra early.

NJORD (97 here, 109 previously) never quite looked like getting into it from mid to rear, short of room late on.

ONASSIS (93 here, 105 previously) faced a stiff task and showed up for a long way, eased when weakening.

RHYTHM MASTER (81 here, 107 previously)

ERASMO (? here, 102 previously)

COLOSSEO (? here, 108 previously) might not have been right, so quickly did he drop away, though his second to St Mark’s Basilica in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains has not worked out especially well.