Expert Analysis

A disappointing turnout for this Group 1, with the joint-smallest field this century, though Trueshan injected a bit of class, repeating his win from 2 years earlier despite ground (“good to firm”, tending to “good” judged on times) that connections had avoided with him since he was third in a vintage Goodwood Cup on similar in July, 2022. He set a fair pace, no more, running the final 600 metres in 35.30s for a 110.3% finishing speed.

TRUESHAN (114+ here, 113 previously) is probably not quite as good as he was, but that was still comfortably good enough for him to repeat his win from 2021 in this lesser renewal, leading at a fair pace and settling better than he sometimes has, cranking things up after 600m out and 2 to 3 lengths up on his nearest rivals soon after, running on strongly and not having to be hard ridden.

MOON WOLF (111 here, 103 previously) ran his best race yet (won handicap and beaten in Group 3s/listed races earlier in the campaign) despite being set a bit to do, running on from last without ever looking like getting near the comfortable winner.

RUN FOR OSCAR (108 here, 106 previously) ran well again and is bordering on smart, soon recovering from a slow start in first-time blinkers but merely plugging on late.

SKAZINO (107 here and previously) is not quite as good as he was (achieved more when fourth to Trueshan in this 2 years earlier) but ran creditably again judged on recent efforts.

VERT LIBERTE (107 here and previously) is holding his form, though unable to make much headway at the longest trip he has tried.

EMILY DICKINSON (104 here, 111 previously) found little, having turned in in second, for a moderate effort, despite being proven at this sort of trip on similar ground.