Godolphin

9 ran 1m36.18  
Owner: Mr K. Abdulla

There was an end-of-season feel to this, up to standard for a Group 3 but nothing much revealing in the outcome, though a couple of those on retrieval missions answered positively, including Rio de La Plata, but not enough to overhaul Confront who's on a roll and controlled the race to a large extent, winding up from halfway. CONFRONT is making up for lost time more than anything else, now winning the races he arguably should have some time back, his recent improvement in determination rather than form, perhaps connected to the earplugs he wears these days, that and having more use made of him, and he found plenty when challenged; he's not in the mould of one of the stable's older horses who'll climb right to the top with age, but he'll continue to pay his way at this level, with the Darley Stakes back here later in the month looking an obvious target. RIO DE LA PLATA (USA) will hopefully get a clearer run with his racing next season, as he still has plenty to offer, all the better for his reappearance, combined with the return to fast ground, and he proved his worth against Confront far more than he could at Haydock, the fact he took so long to settle arguably the difference between first and second this day, after he'd loomed up; he would be an interesting runner if coming back here for the Challenge Stakes later in the month (is also in the Champion Stakes), a drop back to 7f likely to pose no problems. FORGOTTEN VOICE (IRE) is running out of time for Group success this year but 2010 should see him graduate, reminding of his ability here fresh from a short break, while leaving the impression he still wasn't quite in the same form as early-summer, responding slowly but surely. DONATIVUM might just come good in the autumn as was the case last year, but this apparent seasonal-best performance is slightly suspect given the manner, merely closing up late with others having made their effort by then, whereas he was perhaps keeping something back, carrying his head awkwardly.YOUNG PRETENDER (FR) is unlikely to salvage much from this campaign as good as his belated comeback was, lasting longer than might have been expected given he was fresh and free, but the way he hung right tempers enthusiasm about him, along with his apparent fragility, making it to the track infrequently. CAPTAIN BRILLIANCE (USA) was more like his useful self, on ratings at least, but it was all rather laboured by him, allowing for the increased pressure from the higher grade.WE'LL COME ended up widest, especially inconvenient in his case, as it takes little for him to turn it in, as happened again. ORDNANCE ROW has more than paid his way again this year, so it's excusable he's gone off the boil by this stage. KHATEEB (IRE) is hard to catch right, but something must have been amiss this time, stopping quickly.