SANDOWN PARK 15:35

All 8 ran.

Time: 1m 45.48s Closing Sectional: (4f): 51.5s (102.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 110%, Betfair SP 101.3%

A meeting of horses at different stages of their career let alone campaign, but the one up-and-comer shone the brightest, a Group 2 performance by him even if the occasion perhaps didn't require it, with few of the rest fully on their game for one reason or another; there was a difference of opinion as to where to race at stages, resulting in a slack pace, heaping extra praise on Addeybb for opening up a gap as he did.

ADDEYBB (IRE) is busily filling a hole that was left by the group retirement of several top-of-the-range milers at the end of last year, the Lockinge the true test of whether Addeybb is in that class, still some work to do to surpass the ratings of Beat The Bank and Limato, though little else that's in line for Newbury, and none are making his approach, a fast-developing force, taking it up a gear from the Lincoln, naturally a little slower on the uptake in this elevated company but bursting ahead 1f out, some move on this ground off this gallop; though clearly in his element on soft, he was successful on his only start on going firmer than good, and that maiden took a lot of winning in hindsight.

STORMY ANTARCTIC has been well primed to get ahead while the ground is in his favour, only Addeybb - to all intents and purposes a Group 1 miler - preventing him following up from France, though catching a few others cold, biding his time in contrast to Saint-Cloud and coming through for second in the last ½f.

ALJAZZI had another tilt at a Group 1 last autumn, not entirely out of her reach in mares events, otherwise this is more her level, showing most of what she's got here, her first start of the year but seemingly best when fresh, played late as usual, brought widest in the straight, making a race of it for second, outclassed by Addeybb like all the rest; she split Qemah and Usherette in the Duke of Cambridge at Royal Ascot on fast ground.

ROBIN OF NAVAN (FR) similar story to the Earl of Sefton the week before, fading into fourth after promising more (led over 1f out), not firing on all cylinders as yet this season, for all this wasn't far off his figure, saying more about his task in Group 2s, at least outside of France where he does much of his work.

HERE COMES WHEN (IRE) follows the script by and large, conditional in the extreme, capable of transforming from from bit-part player into the lead role when the ground is suitably testing, the simple equation of last year's Sussex win, but his issue reappearing here was that he was far too free, still that way inclined, weakening out of it over 1f out.

SOVEREIGN DEBT (IRE) hit new heights in the first half of last year, difficult to replicate aged 9, but this race was just a means to an end to kickstart his campaign (came in hot when winning it last year), some encouragement to be taken from the fact he got within a length of the lead over 2f out, before his absence told.

KHAFOO SHEMEMI (IRE) stuck to the inside in the straight and folded over 1f out, a little underwhelming considering he'd dictated and done some good work in Dubai earlier this year, though this was probably the softest ground he's faced.

MR OWEN (USA) left the impression conditions were too testing for him, still looking in form from the way he got into contention 2f out; perhaps he'll always be best on all-weather.