Godolphin

10 ran 1m25.29  
Owner: Mrs J. S. Bolger

A fitting event for Champions Day, with most of the leading juveniles in opposition, 3 unbeaten colts among the 7 pattern winners, but though it duly proved an illustrious renewal, the first 2 producing high-class performances, at least the equal of Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor last year, the race wasn't quite all resolving on account of the softish going, several flagging on it by the end including Rio de La Plata and Raven's Pass, the latter having travelled best; the ground apart it was a fair contest, unprejudiced by tactics, as the gallop was good, the time faster than the older horses clocked in the Challenge Stakes. NEW APPROACH (IRE) clearly deserves top billing among the 2-y-os after 5 runs unbeaten, rising to every challenge, improving all along, but he's not quite so pre-eminent nor formidable as a perfect record might suggest, this race turning out less of an examination than it promised, while to some degree exposing the chinks in his armour, and as such his short odds for the classics are unappealing, certainly at this stage; he's obviously highly strung, and come next May will presumably have to partake in more drawn-out preliminaries than he has so far, again accompanied by an outrider here, from the paddock exit to the start, going down very early in his own time, but in fairness he's been nothing short of professional once racing, this showing he doesn't need to dominate, though proving hard work; awkwardly away, but waited with by intent, restrained in mid-field, he took time and strong pressure to get to the front, only in the last 150 yds, and had to dig deeper still to see off the second, his rider suspended (5 days) for excessive whip use; though the Guineas remains rather more open than the current betting, he's setting a high standard, plus 8f will suit him, and beyond that his pedigree gives plenty of encouragement for him staying the Derby trip, but same connections' Teofilo, also by Galileo, serves as a reminder of how indefinite racing can be. FAST COMPANY (IRE) has developed into one of the leading lights in the space of just 3 races, albeit given time since the Acomb, and even if this proves the bounds of his progress, lacking in physical scope, he's plainly going to have a say in the some of the top 3-y-o events starting with the Guineas; the longer trip may benefit him given the manner of this display, though his inexperience compared to most was perhaps instrumental, soon behind and off the bridle, but, brought widest, warming to his task, more so on the uphill stretch, to the extent he put New Approach to the test late on; many of Danehill Dancer's progeny stay much further than he did and among Fast Company's more distant relations is Oaks-placed Hawajiss. RAVEN'S PASS (USA) played a minor part this day, but promising a bigger challenge to the first 2 should they all meet again next May, particularly if it comes up good or firmer ground, as significantly he went through the race better than both, looking the winner when going on 2f out, only to tie up, unable to sustain his powerful motion so well as he had on a faster surface at Sandown, that still one of the best performances (on form and time) by a juvenile this season, and since endorsed by City Leader; Raven's Pass is an imposing colt, the pick in this field, and arguably the most likely of them to improve again as a 3-y-o, bred to be a miler. RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) is possibly more of a match for New Approach than he was able to show in the National Stakes let alone this race, for which connections' concerns over the softish ground for him seemed to be founded, the conditions unbecoming to his fluent action, and it's to his credit that he threatened briefly nosing between the winner and third over 1f out before that gap shut, thereafter fading, but spared driving once held; his revised Guineas odds of as big as 12/1 is a bit of an overreaction, though back in 2002 was the last time Godolphin had much success with their returning horses at that early-season meeting. LUCK MONEY (IRE) has had a profitable season, as well as a light one, which raises hope of him making a better 3-y-o, certainly having the build for it, and this was a sound sign off up against it with the best around, ridden positively as usual, underlining his speed, but he'll probably stay 8f in due course. HATTA FORT's limitations have been exposed at Group 1 level the last twice, though running as well as he can, at least at this trip, as further may be the making of him. MCCARTNEY (GER) weakened out of it faced with different ground to that he improved on at Doncaster, though won on good to soft earlier, and, despite looking in good shape, was perhaps past his best at this stage of the season, as there's little to doubt the Champagne form. GREATWALLOFCHINA (USA) has tackled a couple of the leading juvenile races, but without much justification, before or in event, and surely the stable has better 3-y-o prospects. DARK ANGEL (IRE) has more than paid his way already, but a good job, as he'll be hard to place to advantage from now on, this effort confirming him as an out-and-out sprinter. DUBAI MEYDAN (IRE) had no business being here, but should develop the right way back in more appropriate company.