The field split into two distinct groups with four electing to go far side and the remainder heading towards the stands' rail and it was the near-side posse that emerged on top with the Spanish raider EQUIANO making just about all to score in ready fashion. He pinged out to grab the rail early on and was given an easy time in the lead through the first few furlongs, which ultimately proved decisive.
It was clear entering the final furlong that he was the one to beat and he ran on strongly when asked for maximum effort. He relished this return to a quicker surface and confirmed last-time-out form with Benbaun, who was around the same margin behind him over another furlong in France 16 days previously.
Indeed this is a massive boost for his conqueror in France, Marchand D'Or, who is due to contest the Group 1 Golden Jubilee Stakes here on Saturday. Equiano will stay in Britain and join Barry Hills, who will no doubt be leaning towards the likes of the July Cup, the Nunthorpe and Haydock Sprint Cup as likely future targets. Further improvement looks firmly on the cards and he fully deserves a chance to prove he is not flattered by this first Group 1 success.
Takeover Target ran another blinder in defeat and has to emerge with a lot of credit. He was always handy here, but it was clear passing the final furlong pole that he had it to do to catch the eventual winner. He was eating into that rival's advantage nearing the finish and probably ran right up to his form when successful in thisrace two years ago. He will now turn out quickly again for the Golden Jubilee and, with the likelihood that he will come on a touch for this run, he should be expected to be bang there in that again this time around. The extra furlong there also suits him best these days.
Temple Stakes heroine Fleeting Spirit was produced with every chance. She posted another personal-best effort in defeat and is clearly a high-class filly, so there will doubtless still be other days for her in this grade. She will likely re-oppose the winner in the Nunthorpe. Her trainer felt she may not have been totally at the top of her game on this occasion.
One has to feel for the fourth home Dandy Man, who again found himself on the wrong side, electing to go with three others on the far side, and ran out a clear winner of that group, only just missing out on third. This proves his disappointment in the Temple Stakes (lost a shoe) to be all wrong. He is a genuine Group 1 sprinter when things go his way and could turnout again on Saturday in the Golden Jubilee, but the suspicion really is that a stiff 5f is his optimum trip.
The South African mare National Colour is blessed with serious early pace and she again advertised that here by leading the far-side group. She appeared to be leading overall at one stage, but not that surprisingly tired out of things on this first outing since running in Dubai in March last year. She is due to stay in Britain now, with the Nunthorpe at York in August looking an ideal target for her.
Benbaun, just touched off in this by Takeover Target in 2006, did little wrong in defeat. He probably just needs an extra furlong to shine now and fully deserves to take his chance in the Golden Jubilee.
Magnus ran below his best on this occasion and proved one-paced when asked to make up his ground.
Abraham Lincoln was quickly brought over to the stands' side and got a very patient ride. He was making up his ground inside the final furlong, albeit without ever threatening,and would have been a little closer had he not been slightly hampered.
The rider of seasonal debutant Kingsgate Native seemed unsure as to which group to tag onto from the gates and he was the last runner to track over to the stands' side. He failed to pick up when asked for maximum effort and, having proved keen through the early parts with no cover, he was below his previous best here. It is too soon to write him off and it may well also prove that the step up to 6f is now what he really wants.
Moorhouse Lad never looked a player on the far side. He should prove a deal sharper next time, but is not going to prove easy to place this year.
Enticing raced freely through the early stages in the first-time blinkers and her effort petered out shortly after passing the final furlong marker. She still ran close enough to her Haydock form with Fleeting Spirit and is another who is now tricky to place successfully.
Matsunosuke was always playing catch-up on the far side and was predictably outclassed in the end. [DO]
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