Godolphin

10 ran 2m31.19  
Owner: Godolphin

Not a great deal of depth to this Group 3 but it still required a very smart performance from Kirklees to see off All The Aces, the pair pulling well clear; the gallop looked no better than modest for the most part, which played into the hands of the winner. KIRKLEES (IRE) made it 3 out of 3 in Britain this year with another very smart performance conceding weight all round; ridden with more restraint than usual at this longer trip, and with the modest gallop playing right into his hands, he showed a good turn of foot to lead over 1f out, always in control even though the runner-up was closing again at the line; he reportedly heads for the Caulfield Cup next, a race the stable won with All The Good last year, though a greater test at this trip is unlikely to be in his favour. ALL THE ACES (IRE) ran right up to his best and, still lightly raced, there'll almost certainly be a bit more improvement in him when his stamina is brought more into play; he made the running here but Robinson never really attempted to wind up the pace until the final 3f, sticking to his task well once Kirklees had quickened past him; he'll be winning at this sort of level before long, something like the Cumberland Lodge an obvious next target. INDIAN DAYS is fully exposed as a little short at this level but did at least put a poor run at Goodwood behind him with a good effort on his first try on this surface. SKY CRUSADER was only a fairly useful handicapper when last seen in this country for Roger Ingram 3 years earlier but has been a prolific winner on all-weather in Europe since and produced a near-smart effort here, quickening into it with the winner before his effort levelled out inside the last. INVENTOR (IRE) has taken a while to make it to the track this year (also been gelded) but the wait could prove worthwhile as this was a good first run back and there's still the potential for further improvement beyond 12f, though on the down side his BHA mark of 98 is likely to go up a little on the back of this; he also acts on good to firm and good to soft going. HELIODOR (USA) ran right up to his best but that isn't going to be enough to make him a force in races at this sort of level, at least in this country. KING OF ROME (IRE) showed himself better than ever when third in a Group 2 at Nad Al Sheba in early-March but was some way off that level on his first start since finishing down the field in the Sheema Classic later that month, albeit travelling well for much of the way under restraint; he went without the tongue tie he'd worn previously for this yard. KANDIDATE has won this race in the past but was well below form back on his favoured polytrack for the first time since the spring (reportedly lost a shoe). CURTAIN CALL (FR) unfortunately had to be destroyed after breaking down badly in the final 3f. MUHANNAK (IRE) has gone badly the wrong way since his Breeders' Cup victory last autumn and needs treating with caution after this display, reluctant to go to post in the first place then cocking his jaw and pulling himself up after 3f or so.