Expert Analysis

Officially, this is likely to go down as a course record, and it may have been, but not to the degree suggested by a time that had not been adjusted to take into account that it was taken by hand and therefore subject to reaction time. It was nonetheless fast compared to the other race on the straight course on the card, the pace strong – all runners had finishing speeds below 100% – and the ground firm, the latter leading to numerous non-runners. The runners came mostly down the centre and those who stuck nearest to the far side may have been at a small disadvantage.

MINZAAL (124 here, 114 previously) put up one of the performances of the European sprinting season, close to those of Nature Strip at Royal Ascot and Highfield Princess at York, with things seeming to pan out well for him. He was held up in mid-field with the early pace strong, was going well when briefly having to wait for a run 2f out then quickened into the lead and forged clear, his rider putting down his whip before the line. He was reported to be “quite jarred” after this, on what was fast ground.

EMARAATY ANA (110 here, 114 previously) is steadily coming back to the form that saw him win this with a 114-rated performance 12 months before, tracking the strong pace travelling comfortably and leading briefly approaching the final 1f, left for dead by the winner thereafter but sticking to his task.

ROHAAN (110 here, 114 previously) had things set up well for his style and was close to the form of his Wokingham win, slowly away and pushed along behind, improving well in the penultimate 1f then keeping on.

FLAMING RIB (107 here, 111 previously) ran a bit better than the result, which was a creditable run from him in any case, up with the strong pace and quite free and with every chance until edging slightly left and no extra in the final 1f.

CHIL CHIL (99 here, 103 previously) remains below the form that took her to third in this 12 months before but shaped a bit more encouragingly this time, travelling comfortably in mid-field but unable to sustain a forward move late on.

HARRY THREE (96 here, 109 previously) was always on the back foot after missing the kick slightly, passing a few late for pressure.

GO BEARS GO (91 here, 113 previously) should have fared better even after allowing for him going pretty fast up front early, in front again briefly soon after halfway then no extra.

ART POWER (89 here, 106+ previously) went faster than ideal up front in the middle of the race (had stumbled leaving stall) but not to the degree that could excuse fully such a below-par effort.

KHAADEM (87 here, 110 previously) pulled too hard back at 6f for the first time in a while.

HALA HALA ATHMANI (78 here, 99 previously) was slowly into her stride and never a threat.

NAVAL CROWN (78 here, 118 previously) might not have been helped by racing on the far side but ran badly even so, some headway to have a chance after halfway but emptying and not knocked about.

DUBAWI LEGEND (69 here, 109 previously) never fully recovered from a slow start and also raced widest of all, but he is not exactly consistent as it is.