Godolphin

19 ran 1m35.60  
Owner: Wertheimer et Frere

The biggest field in the history of the race (16 the previous highest number) drew a strong and interesting line-up, 9 of the field already successful at either listed or group level, 11 of them recently entered in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot, including 6 of the first 9 home; in a furiously-run affair, Falco left his previous form well adrift, and though much was made of the late thrust (from the worst of the draw) of the eventual third, to our eyes the winner looks the best miling prospect in the line-up; while there was a bit of argy-bargy, the draw didn't turn out quite the major factor some had expected in such a large field, largely because the early pace soon had them well strung out. FALCO (USA) (Pivotal half-brother to useful French 2006 2-y-o 5.5f/6f winner Iron Lips; dam, French 9.5f winner, half-sister to useful French 10f winner Underwater out of half-sister to high-class French 10f performer Groom Dancer), for all he sprang something of a surprise, took the eye as much as anything beforehand and, racing on good to firm going for the first time, improved vastly to land what looked a really competitive affair; soon travelling strongly on the outer, a third of the way down the field, he was sent clear early in the straight and, despite getting a bit tired near the finish, never looked like being reeled in; he now heads for Ascot to take up his St James's Palace engagement and shouldn't be underestimated in that; a big, strapping colt, who looked in extremely good shape, he's perhaps just coming to himself physically and may well do better still, this effort way ahead of his previous efforts; he'd got off the mark at the fourth attempt in a minor event over course/distance on heavy ground last month. RIO DE LA PLATA (USA), without reproducing the very best of his juvenile form, made a satisfactory reappearance, though his running perhaps raised a question or two as to where his future lies, one of the leading bookmakers cutting his odds for the Derby; however, so far as we are concerned our views on his stamina remain the same as last season, if anything re-enforced by this effort; dropped out and switched right to race against the rail, for all he began to pick up early in the straight (met only minor interference at one stage), weaving through against the inner, by the time he was in full flight the winner was home and hosed and, ultimately (as had been the case on 2 occasions last season), his finishing effort looked to have ended at the death; in short, he's far from certain to stay any further; last season, he won 3 of his 6 starts, notably the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood and the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp, both over 7f and each performance marked by a striking turn of speed; beforehand, he left the impression the outing would bring him to a peak; a rangy, good-topped colt, he's a fluent mover. RIVER PROUD (USA) finally showed the level of ability his first 2 starts as a 2-y-o suggested he might be capable of, flying home having got well behind from the worst of the draw; however, though he's clearly capable of winning a good race, his temperament (at least with regard to the stalls) has to be a cause for concern; drawn in 14, he went in early with a blanket, only to get very upset, damaging that berth, eventually (and after giving a deal of trouble) starting from widest of all; typically, he looked in good shape. YORKTOWN (FR) (€180,000Y by Red Ransom; dam, Wedding Night, useful French 7f (at 2 yrs) to 10f winner), with a record of 2 wins from 4 starts (both minor events at Deauville, the second one on his reappearance), didn't look good enough to figure here and, in finishing fourth, he clearly excelled himself, staying on from off the pace, messed about slightly a couple of times; not sure to stay much further, he's clearly smart; given quite a well documented history of foot problems (both fore feet heavily packed here), it was perhaps surprising that he proved so able on this faster going as, beforehand, he looked lethargic and walked none too freely. HELLO MORNING (FR) is gradually returning to the sort of form that saw him run second to Thewayyouare in the Criterium International and while he didn't quite reproduce his best on this ground, he certainly wasn't disgraced either, getting in a bit of a barging match passing halfway, essentially done for a real change of pace in the straight; he's bred to stay 10f. THEWAYYOUARE (USA), the winner of 4 of his 5 races as a juvenile (notably the Prix Thomas Bryon and the Criterium International, both at Saint-Cloud), remains a good prospect for top honours in the weeks ahead; unlike most of his rivals, he lacked a prep run, and bearing in mind also that he'd looked ready for a step up to 10f by the end of his 2-y-o career, he actually did well those points borne in mind; settled halfway down the field on the outer, he was never able to land a blow, though was staying on stoutly enough at the death; a good-topped, attractive colt by Kingmambo, he's a half-brother to Peeping Fawn (not unlike her in appearance) and now heads for the Prix du Jockey Club; incidentally, he got increasingly edgy as the preliminaries wore on, eventually taken early to post; let's hope this was a one-off as there is a lengthy parade at Chantilly. PACO BOY (IRE), despite failing to take the eye on the way to post, pretty much matched the form of his Greenham win; however, it is likely he'll continue to struggle pitched in against the very best of his generation. BERMUDA RYE (IRE) proved how unlucky he was when last of 6 in a farcical race for the Prix Djebel in April, and in just the third race of his career (winner of 7f newcomers race at Saint-Cloud last autumn on heavy going) acquitted himself well considering his inexperience, chasing the leaders pretty much all the way, keeping on as though likely to benefit from further; by Cape Cross, his dam, successful over 1m in France at 2 yrs, is from the family of Scorpion. TAMAYUZ, who got involved in some scrimmaging, as a result was poorly placed off the home turn, running on late; he'd looked progressive before this and is worth another chance. GEORGEBERNARDSHAW (IRE)'s best form had been achieved on some of the softest going seen at the Curragh in recent times; not surprisingly, he found this test a completely different kettle of fish, beaten before stamina became an issue, unable to pick up when the crunch came. IL WARRD (IRE), who'd been transferred from Marcus Tregoning after Kempton, raced freely behind a strong early pace, not surprisingly getting tired once in line for home. GENERAL ELIOTT (IRE), thrown in at the deep end, ultimately came up short; however, he ran better than the bare result, buffeted around 2 or 3 times, overall not disgraced given his previous form; he may yet do better. ONE GREAT CAT (USA) was asked to help set a furious early pace, eased once beaten. LUCIFER SAM (USA), rousted up to help with pacemaking duties, was eased once held.