On Thursday I wrote "The only 3 I can see putting up any resistance to the fav are the admirable Borderlescott, Markab and Regal Parade", this turned out to be the case as far as Markab was concerned. He was always in command and led the stands side group before drifting across the track at the end to be comfortably on top in a course record time. Nothing else was near him on the stands side and it was a top performance for this 7yo and you cannot knock it. He is improving in what has been his best season and whose to say he wont go on and win in Paris.
Starspangledbanner looked burly before the race and the lack of work was there to be seen and O'Brien who is usually so meticulous with his preparation had slipped up here and we didnt see the horse that has been talked up by the stable as the best sprinter they have had. I dont think we will be seeing him on the racecourse again and that is a shame as he could have gone out on a far better note.
Lady of the Desert ran a promising race and she will be in the thick of it next year when trying to win the sprint crown and Genki who has always promised to make the transition from Handicapper to Group horse came home in 3rd.
