| Course: EPSOM | Race date:02/06/06 | Race time:3:25 | Runners:6 |
| Race distance:1m4f | Going:Good | Winners time:2m 37.64s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shirocco | C Soumillon | A Fabre | 5 | 9-0 | 5 | 124 | 0 | 8/11F | 2.02 | 1.88 | 1.74 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Ouija Board | L Dettori | E A L Dunlop | 2 | 8-11 | 5 | 118 | 117 | 11/4 | 4.7 | 3.96 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 2 | 1¾ |
| Enforcer | Martin Dwyer | W R Muir | 3 | 9-0 | 4 | 120 | 109 | 66/1 | 190 | 123.28 | 50 | 50 | 3 | ½ |
| Ace | K Fallon | A P O´Brien | 1 | 9-0 | 5 | 116 | 0 | 11/2 | 9 | 6.74 | 5.5 | 7.6 | 4 | 2½ |
| Notable Guest | Richard Hughes | Sir Michael Stoute | 6 | 9-0 | 5 | 112 | 112 | 14/1 | 28 | 19.17 | 15.5 | 12.5 | 5 | 2½ |
| Something Exciting | T Quinn | D R C Elsworth | 4 | 8-11 | 4 | 95 | 112 | 50/1 | 130 | 92.96 | 48 | 65 | 6 | 9 |
As expected, nothing wanted to lead, and SHIROCCO was in front on sufferance until Ace took over after around three furlongs. Never worse than second, the Arc fourth and Breeders' Cup Turf winner edged back in front as they approached the home straight, but as he shook off Ace he faced a strong challenge on his outside from Ouija Board, who pressed him hard from around two furlongs out and got to within a neck. He is a hard horse to pass, however, and the further they went, the stronger he looked, and he was firmly on top at the finish.
Although he has yet to win with ground that has 'firm' in the description, he clearly doesn't need it soft, and quick ground is less of a worry now than it has ever been. The King George is theobvious midsummer target, and a rematch with stablemate Hurricane Run - a real possibility, by all accounts - would be a race to savour. Hurricane Run ended last season rated 5lb his superior on the International Classifications, but Fabre hadn't had Shirocco long and there might not be that much in it now.
Ouija Board, returning for the first time to the scene of her runaway Oaks win, ran another blinder, and she would have been a shade closer but for being eased near the finish when pursuit was hopeless. A stronger pace would have suited, but that's not to say she would have beaten Shirocco under any circumstances. The Hardwicke and the Prince of Wales's are the options now, and connections do not rule out the former, even though it's a Group 2.
Ace ran in nine successive Group 1 races last year - he ran well in most and chased home Shirocco at Belmont - but he was below form in a Group 3 on his reappearance and below form again here. He wore headgear at Belmont, and maybe needssome help of that sort again.
Notable Guest faced a stiff task, but he was entitled to finish somewhere near Enforcer. This was flying high, and he needs dropping back in class.
Something Exciting, unable to win after her second in a relatively weak Oaks a year ago, was hard to fancy, especially as she was the only one who lacked a previous race. She is entitled to come on for this, but there wasn't any obvious promise in her effort and she won't be easy to place. [GD]
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