Godolphin

10 ran 1m26.02  
Owner: H.R.H. Sultan Ahmad Shah

A race that's really picked up since elevated to Group 2 status in 2003, the last 2 renewals won by subsequent classic winners Shamardal and Sir Percy, and it's almost certainly best to take a positive view of this year's running, the field as a whole impressing in terms of physique, whilst the first 2 especially look likely to carry on progressing, Strategic Prince showing he's developed into a smart 2-y-o already as he defied his penalty, holding off the late challenge of Duke Of Marmalade; the field finished well strung out despite the tempo taking 2f or so to pick up, Kirklees dictating, and Silent Waves would have finished third but for being held in by the runner-up. STRATEGIC PRINCE has plenty of stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree and stepped up again from Newmarket over this extra 1f, showing smart form as he defied a 3-lb penalty for that success, travelling strongly close up and quickening ahead when ridden 2f out, pushed close only late on; he should go on progressing for a while yet, particularly as he's bred to stay further still, and the Dewhurst looks an obvious target for him later in the year. DUKE OF MARMALADE (IRE) (by Danehill; dam, Irish 1m winner, half-sister to very smart performer up to 1¾m Shuailaan from very good family)'s trainer has tended to use this race as more of a sighter in recent years, but this colt created a really good impression on his British debut, stepping up markedly on his form in maidens (won at the Curragh on second start) as he ran to a near-smart level, and the way he went left the impression there will be more to come as his stamina is tested further, only really getting going at the finish, cutting the winner down with every stride; a big, strong colt, he'll stay 8f this year and looks sure to be winning pattern events before much longer. KIRKLEES (IRE) has quickly made into a useful performer, this just his third start, progressing with each one, albeit fortunate to finish in front of his stablemate with that one meeting trouble, though there may still be more to come from him given his build (big, strong); he also looks an uncomplicated sort, making much of the running here only to find a couple of smart colts too strong in the last 2f. SILENT WAVES (USA) appeared to be his trainer's first string judged on the betting and would almost certainly have beaten his stablemate to third but for being held in by the runner-up for much of the straight, having to pull back around that rival over 1f out before running on, albeit edging left, that possibly still down to greenness (also did so at Beverley); a tall, good-topped colt, he's clearly still on the up, and remains likely to be suited by 8f. MEDICINE PATH ran to a useful level pitched into pattern company on just his second start, stepping up a little on his York form for all he couldn't sustain his effort under 2f out; a quite speedily-bred colt, it could be that shorter will suit him just as well at this stage of his career. EAGER LOVER (USA) looked to have a very stiff task and actually showed a lot more than in 2 previous starts, his consenting to settle probably making the difference, albeit still taking a while, sticking on well from rear for all he was never going to get to the principals, his rider in no way hard on him; a tall, good-topped colt, he should have little difficulty winning a maiden, particularly as there's probably more still to come. KALGOORLIE (USA) was a long way off repeating his Coventry effort pitched back into pattern company, never looking like getting into things. JO'BURG (USA) was another to let down the Coventry form, seeming to take little interest as he was soon under pressure in rear, the longer trip having nothing to do with his poor showing. NUR TAU (IRE) looked up against it having shown barely fairly useful form in 2 previous starts and was never dangerous after taking a while to settle; he's bred to stay 8f when the time comes. HABALWATAN (IRE) had an extremely stiff task on his Newmarket form and ran accordingly; he's bred to be suited by this sort of trip, even further.