DEAUVILLE 0:00

All 5 ran.

Time: 1m 41.9s

Overrounds: Industry SP 124%, Betfair SP 0%

One of the great races of the European calendar, won by such luminaries as Miesque, Dubai Millennium and Goldikova, and Kingman bears comparison with the best of them, for all that the tactical nature of this both played to his strength and meant that the strict result is difficult to rate highly; the opening 200m was slow, and it was only at halfway that things heated up properly; the final 400m was run in 22.69s (112.3% finishing speed), and it can be deduced that the winner ran approximately 10.75s for the penultimate 1f and 11.45s for the final one, another terrific display of speed, given the slowness of the surface, to go with those he had shown previously.

KINGMAN was once again imperious, winning in the style of one who could easily have a mid-to-high 130s performance in him, but again done favours by rivals who played to his strength in making this a test of speed more than stamina; waited with, travelled strongly, steady progress 2f out, quickened to lead approaching final 1f, forged clear, given just a few cracks; it is unlikely anything will beat him for raw ability and speed in his next (and possibly final) intended engagement, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, but it remains a possibility that he'll be more vulnerable if that race turns into a thorough test.

ANODIN (IRE) ran well; mid-field, travelled strongly, effort 2f out, every chance soon after, kept on; it was optimistic, to say the least, to try to beat Kingman for a turn of foot, but he was comfortably second-best on the day; the way he travels suggests he would be OK if returned to 7f.

OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE) may be top-class on his day, but those days are not especially frequent, and he turned in another disappointing effort here, some way below the level he showed when short-headed 12 months before; steadied at the start, held up, effort over 2f out, disputed lead briefly 1f out, found little.

RIZEENA (IRE) had plenty on her plate and emerged with credit; led briefly, tracked pace, effort over 2f out, one paced; it is questionable whether she will stay further, and this steadily-run race was not against her.

RED DUBAWI (IRE) ran well; dictated, kicked on halfway, headed over 1f out, no extra; this sort of level is just beyond him on balance.