Expert Analysis

This Group 3 saw the old boy, Al Aasy, continue his remarkable season at the age of nine with a third success in pattern company. This win followed his Group 2 success in France at the end of August, and just like that it was hard fought as he marginally got the better of Royal Playwright.

AL AASY was a little keen off what was no more than a steady pace. Slowly away, he raced in rear, but in what was a tightly bunched field he was never too far off the pace. He swung wide off the home turn to make his challenge on the stands side of the field, catching the eye with how he was travelling. He showed good acceleration to get to the front and was able to do enough to maintain a narrow advantage all the way to the line.

ROYAL PLAYWRIGHT sat behind the front pair on the rails until the home straight. He tracked Tenability before challenging between that rival and the weakening By The Book. The eventual winner came up on his outside having taken the long way around and the pair got close as they both went by the early leader Tenability. Royal Playwright just couldn’t get to Al Aasy late on, despite pushing him all the way. This was a fair effort on his first try at the distance and he certainly stayed (although not a true test).

TENABILITY led at a steady pace, but always wanted to go a stride faster. He added some pace to the race rounding the home turn but just didn’t quite have the acceleration of the first two in the penultimate furlong. His effort faded inside the final furlong.

BY THE BOOK raced keenly in second for much of the contest but was one-paced in the home straight as the main contenders quickened, and he weakened inside the penultimate furlong.

ROYAL POWER returned from an absence here and never landed a blow. He was passed on his outside early in the home straight by the winner and filled the last position from that point home.