| Course: EPSOM | Race date:02/06/06 | Race time:1:40 | Runners:10 |
| Race distance:1m½f | Going:Good | Winners time:1m 45.59s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echelon | K Fallon | Sir Michael Stoute | 5 | 9-9 | 4 | 112 | 103 | 15/8F | 3.5 | 3.16 | 2.2 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Musicanna | Jamie Spencer | J R Fanshawe | 2 | 9-6 | 5 | 105 | 106 | 5/1 | 7.6 | 5.84 | 4.7 | 1.33 | 2 | ½ |
| Zayn Zen | Philip Robinson | M A Jarvis | 3 | 9-6 | 4 | 104 | 95 | 25/1 | 50 | 35.37 | 20 | 4 | 3 | ½ |
| Shersha | John Egan | Kevin F O´Donnell | 8 | 9-6 | 7 | 103 | 0 | 22/1 | 48 | 35.47 | 28 | 20 | 4 | nk |
| Bahia Breeze | M J Kinane | Rae Guest | 6 | 9-6 | 4 | 102 | 105 | 10/1 | 18.5 | 14.17 | 10 | 12.5 | 5 | ½ |
| Coconut Squeak | Micky Fenton | Stef Liddiard | 9 | 9-6 | 4 | 100 | 98 | 50/1 | 140 | 86.42 | 23 | 80 | 6 | 1 |
| Suzy Bliss | Ted Durcan | W R Swinburn | 7 | 8-8 | 3 | 96 | 95 | 25/1 | 50 | 31.33 | 15.5 | 5.1 | 7 | hd |
| Saabiq | Ryan Moore | C E Brittain | 10 | 8-8 | 3 | 94 | 95 | 14/1 | 55 | 20.3 | 15.5 | 15 | 8 | 1¼ |
| Tarfah | L Dettori | G A Butler | 1 | 9-6 | 5 | 95 | 104 | 4/1 | 6.8 | 5.59 | 5 | 2.5 | 9 | 1 |
| Nantyglo | T Quinn | M L W Bell | 4 | 8-8 | 3 | 84 | 103 | 13/2 | 10 | 8.47 | 6.4 | 7.2 | 10 | 3½ |
This was run at a steady pace with sprinter Coconut Squeak gaining an uncontested lead after she was pushed ahead fromher wide draw. The rest were happy to tuck in and only Tarfah chased the leader while taking a grip.
This looked a strong competitive Group 3 and ECHELON was up against it under her 3lb penalty for her reappearance win at this level. The proximityof lower-rated Listed winners Zayn Zen and Shersha can be used to devalue the overall form but the front two are useful and progressive fillies.
Echelon appears most progressive and travelled well before having to wait for a gap to open in the sprint home in the final three furlongs. She started to pull herself up when ahead so deserves rating a clearer winner. She's to be aimed for the Group 2 Windsor Forest at Royal Ascot, another race confined to fillies and mares which has a strong entry (including the same connections' Lockinge winner Peeress and Soviet Song), but she is sure to be a leading player if the big two bypass that contest.
Musicanna left behind her reappearance run but could not confirm last year's soft-ground defeat of Echelon. She enjoyed a clear passage and got first run on Echelon but could not contain her. She didn't look at home on the track and with the ground probably drying out against her a bit, and Zayn Zenn and Shersha on her heels, she has not quite run up to her best.
Zayn Zen was progressive through last summer and got bogged down on her reappearance effort behind both Musicanna and Bahia Breeze. This run strongly suggests she is still progressing. She could have done with a stronger pace but edged closer through the final two furlongs without worrying the front two.
Bahia Breeze remains frustrating as she again stayed on stoutly when the race was over, having been pushed along in last inside the final two furlongs. Switched widest midtrack, she was bearing down strongly but remains winless in two years, having run in plenty of Group contests.
Coconut Squeak ran another cracker for a sprinter even allowing for her getting an easy lead at a steady pace. Sweating up badly as she can, she only cracked inside the final furlong, having proved too strong for Tarfah, who had tried to get past her up the straight. She may have a high rating but leaves the impression that she can win at least another Listed sprint.
Tarfah ran well enough after herlong break since Royal Ascot at York. The other former Group 3 winner in the field, she had looked most progressive, and while fresh on her first start, she showed all her old zest before tiring into the final furlong and should build on the bare form.
Nantyglo was disapppointing after her good reappearance win over this trip. She ran as if a drop back in distance would suit as she laid down a challenge early in the straight seemingly going well before fading.
Saabiq did nothing to frank Oaks hope Riyalma's form but she was another who looked uneasy on the track and she was switched off at the back so did not get the run of the race, although Bahia Breeze came from behind her up the straight. [BJ]
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