The late defection of Galatee lessened the already suspect class of a race that featured plenty of fillies who were declared when the ground was forescast to be softer, a surface which has been shown to suit them better. Making time comparisons with the Coronation Cup would be unwise, as while Speciosa was again allowed an uncontested lead at a steady pace, the Coronation had been run at an early crawl.

All of this deters from giving ALEXANDROVA flowing tributes after she gave a fair impression ofOuija Board's runaway win in this Classic two years ago. She took this field apart with a withering burst up the straight from what had been an unpromising position off Tattenham Corner. Pulled wide midtrack, she moved up smoothly and had the race won into the final furlong and was full value for the wide margin.

Her two-year-old form had been particularly progressive from humble beginnings and the feeling was that middle distances would play to her strengths after her season-ending second in the Fillies' Mile at Newmarket. There was certainly no panic at Ballydoyle after her Musidora defeat by Short Skirt and the confidence was well placed as Alexandrova proved a class apart.

Connections pointed the way to the Irish Oaks, but quotes of as low as20-1 for the Arc make absolutely no appeal.

Rising Cross, who dead-heated for first in the Lupe, had solid lower Group form in the book last year against the likes of Nannina and Speciosa which suggested her official rating was something of an insult. She proved it here with the longer trip certainly looking to suit.

She followed the winner's path through down the outside of the pack, and would have been a clearer second but for flyleaping and nearly falling going into the final furlong afterthe winner had crossed in front of her and she was asked to respond when a couple of lengths down. She has run well at Goodwood so it would be no surprise to see her back there at the big meeting and she retains a progressive profile.

Alexandrova's Musidora conqueror Short Skirt was disappointing on the face of it but she has run well enough with conditions going against her, and she raced more exuberantly as the others settled into the steady pace. She had started to get on her toes late in the preliminaries and she was one of the least experienced in the field and can progress again when getting more cut in the ground.

She was wanting to hang off the rail at the highest point on the driest ground, and approaching Tattenham Corner she was on the wrong leg. However, she never stopped trying and it is debatable whether her stamina ran out as she battled on after the first two swamped her, although connections felt she failed to see the trip out.

It has to be back to the drawing board but with summer arriving, it would be no surprise if she waits until the autumn, although natural targets like the Coronation and Falmouth were mentioned. There must be the lure of well-watered ground in France, possibly at Deauville before Newmarket's big autumn fixtures.

The rest never threatened to take a hand at the business end but Guilia, another with little experience, has progressed again to finish fifth without ever threatening to play a major role. She did not look as ease on the track and lost a prominent position running downhill before knuckling down late.

Time On got on her toes in the preliminaries and has not managed to run up to her Cheshire Oaks form with Prowess and Kaylianni but she also looks to just lack the pace and class in this company.

The same applies to her Chester victims, who ran her much closer here but never threatened to get near the real action. Kaylianni did not handle the turning descent well.

Kassiopeia stayed on when it was all over, although that was made to look better by flagging rivals. Riyalma is an altogether bigger more strapping filly than the likes of Rising Cross, Prowess and Guilia but, after travelling well on the heels of the leaders, she weakened very quickly inside the final two furlongs and connections could offer no explanation for the poor run. She has beensuited by plenty of cut in the ground but that alone cannot explain a lacklustre effort, although her form has conspicuously failed to be franked and she may just not be that good. [BJ]

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