"I think a very high class filly won the race."Jim Bolger, Alexander Goldrun's trainer, added: "It has been pleasant trying to take on Soviet Song over a mile, but we will not be in a hurry to do it again Soviet Song is not just good, she's brilliant We salute her. "I am delighted with Peeress because it was her first time in a Group One and she's acquitted herself well," Sir Michael Stoute, her trainer, said. Escapology was required.The links started to burst as the Irishman angled his partner gently to the centre of the course. The grandstand shrieking began as Soviet Song was observed mounting some sort of challenge.
A furlong out, the stinging acceleration which has distinguished her career propelled the mare to the lead. By the time the line came, Soviet Song was two and a half lengths to the good, too good for Alexander Goldrun and Peeress. Never have so many been so cheered by a single mare.The vanquished recognised that it was no disgrace to lose to a winner of this calibre. Two furlongs from home, Johnny Murtagh, Soviet Song's jockey, seemed to be in trouble He was apparently wrapped in chains inside a watery tank.
And it was a slowly run race.Cape Columbine led without much conviction, from Peeress, while Soviet Song was plumb last, almost entirely blocked out on the rails. Soviet Song, who had run just once this year, when third in the Royal meeting at York, was allotted the No1 stall In a slowly run race this could lead to traffic problems. The best of them now, the best there has ever been, was the sturdy filly which trotted out under a dirty sky yesterday.There was, however, peril readily available for the 7-4 favourite. Wherever you are in Britain, a member of the Club is only a matter of yards away. There are around 18,000 of them, largely unnoticed, among us. Elite was launched just over 10 years ago and now has 21 horses spread between nine trainers. Twelve months on James Fanshawe's mare won the Group One contest once again yesterday, but this time there was no need for apology.