| Course: SANDOWN | Race date:05/07/08 | Race time:4:30 | Runners:7 |
| Race distance:2m½f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:3m 34.73s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Distinction | Ryan Moore | Sir Michael Stoute | 7 | 9-3 | 9 | 0 | 107 | 7/2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.48 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Samuel | Eddie Ahern | J L Dunlop | 4 | 9-3 | 4 | 0 | 114 | 11/4F | 1.8 | 1.56 | 1.48 | 1.01 | 2 | shd |
| Tungsten Strike | Darryll Holland | Mrs A J Perrett | 6 | 9-0 | 7 | 0 | 107 | 8/1 | 4.5 | 3.2 | 2.68 | 1.01 | 3 | 6 |
| Finalmente | L Dettori | S A Callaghan | 9 | 9-7 | 6 | 0 | 113 | 16/1 | 5.84 | 4.9 | 4.08 | 2.5 | 4 | 2¼ |
| Raincoat | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 1 | 9-0 | 4 | 0 | 107 | 10/1 | 4.1 | 3.42 | 1.87 | 1.31 | 5 | 2¼ |
| Balkan Knight | Jamie Spencer | D R C Elsworth | 10 | 9-0 | 8 | 0 | 112 | 6/1 | 3.35 | 2.4 | 2.08 | 1.62 | 6 | 4 |
| Ajaan | Ted Durcan | H R A Cecil | 3 | 9-0 | 4 | 0 | 101 | 100/30 | 1.92 | 1.8 | 1.49 | 1.6 | 7 | 19 |
Distinction held up in 5th and well off the pace, closed from 3f out, went 2nd over 1f out, driven to lead last 75yds and edged right, held on
Samuel took keen hold at times, tracked leading pair, went 2nd 3f out, ridden over 2f out, closed to lead over 1f out, headed last 75yds, bumped soon after, just held
Tungsten Strike led after 2f and set good pace, ridden over 2f out, headed over 1f out, soon beaten
Finalmente led 2f, chased leader, ridden 4f out, lost 2nd and beaten 3f out, one pace
Raincoat tracked leading trio, went 3rd well over 2f out, no headway well over 1f out, weakened final furlong
Balkan Knight held up in last pair and well off the pace, ridden and no impression over 2f out
Ajaan held up in last pair, hanging and reluctant over 2f out, soon tailed off
Veteran DISTINCTION is not the force he was, but he is still pretty smart on this sort of ground and he came from off the pace on the outside to head Samuel around 75 yards out and just hold on, having edged right, into the whip, and given him a bump about five strides from the finish. While he remains in this sort of form there are no plans to retire him, and the Goodwood Cup, which he won in 2005, will presumably be on the agenda again.
Samuel looked an improving stayer when beating Tranquil Tiger at York, and he confirmed it with another excellent effort. Having headed long-time leader Tungsten Strike well over a furlong out he was soon challenged by Distinction. While the interference came very late, Eddie Ahern had to stop riding briefly and Samuel still rallied to make it desperately close.
Raincoat had his stamina to prove, and he did not shape like a stayer, for he was keen to post (a rare Gosden runner in a noseband) and weakened noticeably in the closing stages after briefly looking a danger. Last year's winner Balkan Knight was not so effective on this quicker ground. Ajaan is distinctly quirky and he clearly was not enjoying it this time.
*Ted Durcan reported that Ajaan was unsuited by the ground.(GD)
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