result not happy bunny 00 3-y-o MARGOT DID ran out a ready winner and posted a clear personal-best display on this return to the top level. She was done by the draw when finishing fourth at Sandown in Group 3 company last month, but had returned to her best when winning back-to-back races before that and is a real 5f specialist. All ground seemingly comes alike to her and, while she may have been racing on the best of it, she did travel most powerfully through the race. Indeed she could have been called the winner nearing the final furlong and this was another top-flight success for the massively improved Hayley Turner.
The winner was called a few names thanks to a string of frustrating efforts as a juvenile and her first two runs back this year also marked her down as one to tread carefully with. However, connections have obviously found the key to her this summer and she is now blossoming. Her trainer´s horses are also in cracking form at present. The Group 1 Prix de L´Abbaye at Longchamp in October looks the obvious next step for her and that test ought to prove right up her street.
Hamish McGonagall´s proximity clouds the water of this form, but he loves this venue and is yet another indication of an in-form sprinter being able to mix it when thrown in at the top level. He posted a career-best when just held over C&D 41 days earlier and this must rate another step up. The ground was in his favour and he was drawn ideally as it turned out. He fully deserves to win a Group race.
Prohibit was laid out for this after making the breakthrough in Group 1 company in the King´s Stand at Royal Ascot in June. He proved somewhat free early on, but was noted travelling powerfully 2f out. There is a reason why he sports headgear, though, and he hung markedly right when put under pressure, ending up down the centre having originally kept far side. He still emerged best of those drawn in single figures and helps to give substance to this form. Entitled to come on for the run, another trip to France looks sure to be on his agenda and his previous experience of such travelling dictates he has a fair chance of reversing form with the winner in the Prix de L´Abbaye.
2007 winner Kingsgate Native, who flopped at Goodwood last month, was having his fourth run in this event and sweated up beforehand. He still travelled sweetly, however, and returned to the sort of form that saw him finish second in the Temple Stakes on his comeback. He too sets the level.
The other 3-y-o Wizz Kid, another filly, beat Prohibit when last seen in a Group 2 at Chantilly in June and she was unlucky not to have confirmed form with that rival. She travelled nicely under restraint on the far side, but got outpaced when things became really serious. She was coming back late on, though, and found trouble when the gap closed near the finish. Her run needs upgrading and she looks sure to strike again when faced with more of a test.
Hoof It could hardly have been more impressive when carrying ten stone to success in the Stewards´ Cup at Glorious Goodwood last month and, with his liking for this venue already proven, itwasn´t surprising to see him head the betting despite this being a first crack at the top level. It was his first run back over the minimum this term and that showed as he took time to get into his full stride from off the pace. The plan beforehand was surely to track likely leader Masamah, but it went out of the window when that rival shot over to the far rail and Fallon momentarily looked unsure of which group to tag onto. That resulted in him tracking Inxilemore towards the middle and he was always getting there too late inside the final furlong. Things didn´t pan out for him this time, but it was still another decent effort and he´s not one to abandon.
Captain Dunne, a stablemate of the runner-up, is a real speedster and won the Epsom Dash on his previous start back in June. He looked a picture beforehand and had his chance racing towards the near side. This level just looks beyond him.
Masamah came into this on the back of a career-best win at Glorious Goodwood and was previously 3-3 over C&D. He unsurprisingly shot out to lead, but his unexpected manoeuvre to the far rail (Spencer picked up three-day ban) backfired and he was never going to confirm his previous C&D form with Hamish McGonagall.
Bated Breath confirmed himself a true Group 1 sprinter when second in the July Cup the previous month and was a leading ante-post fancy for this, but reportedly suffered an interrupted preparation. The easier ground was also a concern beforehand, but he still got very well backed near the off. He did his best to get involved racing handily on the far side, but it was apparent 1f out he was in trouble. He´s much better than this on a quick surface.
Molecomb winner Requinto was the only juvenile this year and had been supplemented for the race. Solid in the market with his big weight-for-age allowance, he never got going despite racing in the near-side group and clearly something went amiss. He was later reported to have been unsuited by the going. [DO]
QUOTES: Trainer Michael Bell: "Margot Did was very unlucky in a lot of races last year. This year things clicked into gear. When she won her first Listed race at Sandown I said the owners she should run in the Nunthorpe. Then she got aterrible draw in a Group 3 at Sandown and did well to be fourth. We thought we´d freshen her up for this. She looked a winner from a long way out. She will go to the Abbaye now."
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