A race that would have broken the course record but for rail movements which added 9 yards (around 0.5s) to the advertised distance, but that is down to ground conditions that were objectively “good to firm” if not firmer rather than pace, for there was not a lot of the latter in the first half in reality, Audience covering the first 4f about 1.0s (over 6 lengths at these speeds) slower than the 2-y-o Aomori City had managed a bit earlier. The field was quite well strung out all the same, with the first 2 home at the front, then a few lengths to English Oak and a few more lengths to the rest, and it unsurprisingly proved difficult to make headway from behind. That all said, Audience deserves credit for a high-class performance, his second of the season following his Lockinge win, and he is some operator when in the mood. His final 2f of 22.68s equates to a finishing speed of 105.1%.
AUDIENCE (123 here and previously) belatedly confirmed the form of his Lockinge win under a penalty, with his blowout in between at Royal Ascot and a last of 6 in this 12 months ago reminders that he may not be the most reliable, doing so in visually similar style but faced by a different pace scenario here. He raced in a second a bit wide, with the pace on the steady side, quickened to lead with 2f to go (running a 10.43s split) and went clear in the final 1f to score with a degree of comfort.
ART POWER (106 here, 112 previously) was fast away and dictated matters until past halfway, headed with 2f to go and beginning to flag near the finish but far enough clear to make sure of second. 7f under speed-favouring conditions is a maximum for him.
KINROSS (103+ here, 116 previously) should have been a clear second, set too much to do and running on strongly for pressure late on without getting in a blow. It remains to be seen if he is quite as good as he was but there is little doubt that he is better than the bare form of this.
ENGLISH OAK (97+ here, 110 previously) was a bit better than the result without suggesting that he is good enough to mix it with the big boys just yet, a bit slowly away but soon in third then outpaced late on.
POGO (96+ here, 109 previously) was a bit better than the result under contrasting tactics to usual, held up and never on terms.
TIBER FLOW (94 here, 111 previously) could not improve from mid-field when asked, if anything the opposite.
CHICAGO CRITIC (94 here, 109 previously) had it on, set plenty to do, but made only brief headway when asked.
NOBLE DYNASTY (82 here, 114 previously) ran no sort of a race, slowly away and always behind.
