Broome (Aidan O'Brien) Rating (out of 10) 6
It is unusual for one from this yard to still be racing as a six-year-old but that is probably because connections felt he had not quite yet lived up to expectations. He did win the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud last summer, a first Group One success, but was subsequently well beaten in this contest behind Adayar. The form book tells us this is a stronger contest this time around and while Broome did win the Hardwicke Stakes in fine fashion last month, that still leaves him with a bit to find against the best of these.
Mishriff (John and Thady Gosden) 10
There is still a doubt as to whether the five-year-old gets the credit he has deserved for his exploits to date, partly because most of his success has been overseas. A French Derby winner, he also won the inaugural Saudi Cup on dirt and the Sheema Classic in Dubai. He does have one standout performance to his name on domestic shores, a six-length demolition job on a classy field in last year's Juddmonte International. He looked marginally unlucky in the Eclipse last time out and James Doyle now replaces David Egan in the plate. He sets a high standard for the youngsters to aim at.
Pyledriver (William Muir and Chris Grassick) 7
A real fairytale story as he was bought in for 10,000 guineas yet has taken his connections to some of the biggest races all around the world. A Group One winner courtesy of his success in last year's Coronation Cup, he was narrowly beaten in the Hong Kong Vase and was only beaten a length in the Sheema Classic when meeting trouble in running. He seemingly had no excuse in this year's Coronation Cup, however, and even a career best would leave him with a bit to find.
Torquator Tasso (Marcel Weiss) 8
There is an argument for saying he possesses the best single piece of form in the race having won last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, traditionally the strongest European race of the season. The way he swept by the Derby and King George winner Adayar, Irish Derby and St Leger hero Hurricane Lane and Dermot Weld's Breeders' Cup heroine Tarnawa was super-impressive. However, there is a strong train of thought for saying the very soft ground in France enabled him to do so and he will have to prove himself again on a much quicker surface. There is a chance he may do, though.
You will struggle to find a better looking horse in training but his form as a juvenile gave absolutely no indication of what he was going to do this season. He started with a Sandown Classic Trial win and outran his odds when a fine third in the Derby, when unlucky not to be closer to Desert Crown. In the absence of that colt he was in a different league to his rivals in the Irish Derby and it would have been fascinating to see the two clash again. Alas that was not to be, but he sets the standard for the three-year-old colts in Desert Crown's absence.
Emily Upjohn (John and Thady Gosden) 8
If Westover is the standard setter for the three-year-old colts, Emily Upjohn is the female equivalent. Beaten by the narrowest of margins in the Oaks by Tuesday, she was long odds-on for the Irish equivalent last week only to be stranded by travel difficulties. After Epsom, some suggested the fillies were stronger than the colts this year, but Tuesday was beaten a long way in her ambitious tilt in the Irish Derby. Nevertheless, in receipt of 3lb from Westover and a stone from the rest, the weights and measures favour her.
VERDICT:
A truly fascinating renewal, but it does seem the bookies have decided the three-year-olds will hold sway. Having looked a strong race at the time, only Nashwa has given the Oaks form any credence and she did not stay the trip, so Emily Upjohn may be a little overrated. On the other hand, while Westover was suited to the Curragh, the short Ascot straight and quick ground are not in his favour. Pyledriver and Broome would be slightly surprising winners while Torquator Tasso would surely prefer the heavens to open. That leaves MISHRIFF, a thoroughly dependable character who arguably should have won the Eclipse last time out. There is a minor doubt about his stamina at this trip, but he did win the Sheema Classic in Dubai.
