| Course: EPSOM | Race date:03/06/06 | Race time:2:00 | Runners:15 |
| Race distance:1m2f | Going:Good To Firm | Winners time:2m 6.57s |
| Horse | Jockey | Trainer | Stall | Weight | Age | RPR | OR | Odds | B High | B Ave | B Low | In run | Finished | Dist Behind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage Gift | Robert Winston | Sir Michael Stoute | 8 | 9-7 | 3 | 111 | 94 | 5/2F | 6.4 | 4.13 | 3.8 | 1.01 | 1 | |
| Military Cross | K Fallon | W J Haggas | 11 | 9-3 | 3 | 102 | 90 | 10/1 | 18 | 14.62 | 12 | 2.22 | 2 | 1¼ |
| Lake Poet | Kerrin McEvoy | C E Brittain | 10 | 9-0 | 3 | 95 | 87 | 16/1 | 28 | 22.09 | 8 | 10 | 3 | ½ |
| Burnbank | Francis Norton | W Jarvis | 2 | 8-0 | 3 | 74 | 73 | 25/1 | 44 | 35.11 | 27 | 5.2 | 5 | 2½ |
| Road To Love | K Darley | M Johnston | 3 | 8-12 | 3 | 86 | 85 | 16/1 | 40 | 26.25 | 19.5 | 3 | 6 | shd |
| Salute The General | Martin Dwyer | W R Muir | 4 | 8-9 | 3 | 83 | 82 | 8/1 | 11.5 | 9.7 | 7.2 | 8 | 7 | shd |
| Gracechurch | Chris Catlin | M R Channon | 9 | 8-9 | 3 | 81 | 82 | 50/1 | 100 | 77.43 | 17.5 | 60 | 8 | 1 |
| London Express | Stanley Chin | M Johnston | 15 | 9-5 | 3 | 91 | 92 | 33/1 | 65 | 50.6 | 19 | 50 | 9 | shd |
| Charlie Tokyo | Paul Hanagan | R A Fahey | 14 | 8-5 | 3 | 75 | 78 | 10/1 | 17 | 11.74 | 8 | 13 | 10 | ¾ |
| Merveilles | Jimmy Fortune | J H M Gosden | 6 | 8-13 | 3 | 82 | 86 | 17/2 | 14 | 10.87 | 9.6 | 10 | 11 | ¾ |
| Regal Royale | M J Kinane | Sir Michael Stoute | 13 | 9-5 | 3 | 87 | 92 | 9/1 | 13.5 | 11.41 | 7.2 | 7 | 12 | hd |
| Punta Galera | Richard Hughes | R Hannon | 5 | 9-2 | 3 | 84 | 89 | 25/1 | 110 | 42.54 | 22 | 65 | 13 | ½ |
| Genari | Steve Drowne | P F I Cole | 12 | 9-3 | 3 | 75 | 90 | 66/1 | 110 | 88.78 | 32 | 5.3 | 14 | 5 |
| Nihal | Joe Fanning | M Johnston | 1 | 8-12 | 3 | 69 | 85 | 66/1 | 180 | 105.58 | 17 | 130 | 15 | nk |
STAGE GIFT was heavily backed all morning to complete his hat-trick, despite having been raised to 94 after wins from just 76 and 82 and being forced to carry top weight. Although the winning margin was little more than a length, he was tremendously impressive, and went to the front so easily he could probably have defied a 10lb higher mark had he been held up longer and handled the track better. The striking features were the speed and manner in which he cut down his rivals to lead over two furlongs out, having been held up and still two thirds of the way down the field when they straightened up. He looked for a moment as if he might pull five lengths clear, but once in front he was inclined to hang in towards the rail. He has no fancy entries but can be rated significantly better than the bare form and is probably a Group horse.
Military Cross was very keen under restraint in the early stages, and then caused serious interference to Charlie Tokyo and Salute The General inside the last two furlongs when hanging badly left as he made his move towards on the outside.Once he got to the rail he kept on pretty well, getting the trip despite having been so keen.
There was a blanket finish for the next few places, the battle being won by Burnbank - who is still a maiden but kept on under pressure and ran well for the third time in three starts this year - from Road To Love, who had been off the track more than seven months and was keen, and who also had a stiff enough task on ground quicker than he has encountered before.
Salute The General can be rated a bit better than the bare form and obviously so can Charlie Tokyo, who was staying on when he was turned sideways by Military Cross and was lucky not to come down. Further back, Merveilles, third to Stage Gift at Yarmouth and 12lb better off, was always among the backmarkers, but he is capable of better and looks worth another chance.
Regal Royale, a stablemate of the winner and in the same ownership as the second, was held up in rear. He was still there as they straightened up and is another we didn't see the best of. [GD]
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