mid-division, headway over 2f out, weakened final furlong
soon led, headed over 4f, remained prominent, ridden and weakened over 1f out
held up, ridden and headway over 1f out, soon hung right, ran on
held up, never dangerous
dwelt, always behind
always behind
pulled hard, with leader, led over 4f out, ridden and headed over 2f out, weakened over 1f out
chased leaders, ridden well over 2f out, stayed on same pace from over 1f out
pulled hard, prominent, outpaced over 2f out, stayed on final furlong
tracked leaders, driven to lead over 2f out, headed inside final furlong, stayed on well
held up, never dangerous
slowly into stride, held up mid-division, headway over 2f out, led inside final furlong, ridden out
The David Loder-trained Big Band Music gets the nod over Alamiyan, Killina Boy and Great Plains, who are all open to improvement and can make this a good test for the selection. Great Plains was the lesser fancied of two Khalid Abdulla-owned colts on his debut at Goodwood, but put in a solid performance to get off the mark at the first time of asking. Kerrin McEvoy takes over the riding duties and this well-bred three-year-old will be hard to keep out of the frame if he carries on the momentum from his first outing. Killina Boy is more experienced and has already proved that he has trained on with a couple of decisive victories in handicaps this term. He has an abundance of stamina but faces a stiffer test in this company. Alamiyan was another that did not have too much expectation thrust upon him when he won last time out. Still he did it well and, as he represents one of the shrewdest yards around. He has to be given the utmost respect. Nevertheless, Big Band Music makes more appeal at this stage. His close up second behind Party Boss reads extremely well in the context of this race and, with the firm ground very much in his favour, this progressive individual now looks ready to step up on what he has achieved so far.
Big Band Music (USA) 6-5fav (9-2) Dwelt, soon close up, chased winner 2f out, effort approaching final furlong, ridden and unable to quicken inside final furlong, 2nd of 6, 3/4l behind Party Boss (9-7) at Lingfield 7f 3yo hcp (C1) pol in Feb.
Generous Option 13-2 (9-6) With leader, led halfway, ridden and headed over 1f out, weakened inside final furlong, 5th of 12, 6l behind Turn On The Style (8-5) at Haydock 6f 3yo hcp (4) gs.
Great Plains 8-1 (9-0) Slowly into stride, raced keenly and soon in touch, ridden and headway to chase leading pair over 1f out, quickened to lead final 100 yards, won at Goodwood 7f 3yo mdn (5) gd in Apr beating All Ivory (9-0) by 2 1/2l, 11 ran.
Alamiyan (IRE) 12-1 (9-0) Held up at rear of main group, headway from 3f out, chased leader over 1f out, ran on to lead near finish, won at Kempton 1m 3yo mdn (5) gd beating Stronghold (9-0) by a nk, 13 ran.
Motarassed 10-1 (8-7) Slowly into stride, pulled hard, held up, ridden and weakened over 2f out, 9th of 10, 16l behind Notnowcato (8-4) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (2) gf in Apr.
The Coires (IRE) 12-1 (8-12) Never going well in rear, struggling 3f out, 11th of 12, 12l behind Wise Dennis (8-6) at Ascot 7f 2yo hcp (B1) gf in Sept.
Golden Fury 11-8fav (9-0) Soon led, shaken up final furlong, comfortably, won at Warwick 1m 3yo mdn (5) gs in Mar beating Reaching Out (9-0) by 1 1/2l, 16 ran.
Transvestite (IRE) 16-1 (9-3) Held up in touch, driven and headway over 2f out, led over 1f out, edged right and headed inside final furlong, ran on, 2nd of 19, 1/2l behind Bolodenka (9-3) at Newmarket 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd.
Killena Boy (IRE) 4-1jt-fav (9-6) Tracked leaders, ridden to lead over 1f out, ran on well inside final furlong, won at Nottingham 1m 3yo hcp (5) gd in Apr beating Burton Ash (9-4) by 3 1/2l, 14 ran.
Humble Opinion 7-2fav (8-12) In touch, ridden 3f out, one pace from 2f out, 7th of 17, 12l behind Glen Ida (9-4) at Kempton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (4) gd in Mar.
My Princess (IRE) 5-1 (8-9) Always towards rear, last of 14, 11l behind Knock Bridge (8-3) at Catterick 7f 2yo hcp 0-85 (D2) gs in Oct.
Missatacama (IRE) 3-1fav (8-4) Mid-division, ridden and headway over 2f out, chased leaders over 1f out, kept on, 3rd of 10, 3/4l behind Party Boss (8-5) at W'hampton 1m 1f 3yo hcp (D2) pol in Jan.
