YORK 15:15

All 6 ran. Race Distance Adjustment: +24 yds

Time: 2m 57.64s Closing Sectional: (3f): 37.25s (101.4%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 111%, Betfair SP 101.9%

High-class form by the first 2, the run of the race influential to the outcome, the emphasis more on speed than stamina, suiting Snow Sky more than the strong-galloping Brown Panther, but the point is that both horses cemented their status at the least, albeit a thin race outside of that pair, more so with Romsdal curling up at the end.

SNOW SKY won 1½m classic trials before finishing third in the St Leger itself, essentially improving through the year until Hong Kong, and he's in that mould of so many Stoute horses before him who'll keep pulling out a bit extra over time, even if his background over shorter certainly helped him kickstart his 4-y-o campaign with a win; it arguably suited him and hindered Brown Panther that this tested speed more than stamina, Snow Sky quicker on the uptake so that he seized an advantage 2f out, all out to maintain it to the line, but he's tended to idle in the past and was entitled to be flagging somewhat by then anyway, factoring in his absence, and all in all it was a performance that suggests better days ahead; the trainer was keen to stress that Snow Sky wouldn't tackle 2m until the Melbourne Cup, the long-term aim, and that obviously limits the potential of what he can do in Britain in the meantime, not looking good enough for the top 1½m events, also verging on vulnerable with a penalty in Group 2s.

BROWN PANTHER had wound it up a fair way out when running away with the Dubai Gold Cup in March, in no way flattering on him, his career record speaking for itself, and in many ways this was just as good a performance under less conducive circumstances, including the penalty but chiefly the waiting ride, keen to begin with under restraint but the first niggled (before the home turn), doing all he could, galloping on and trying hard again, but unable to peg back the lead that Snow Sky nicked on him 2f out; he's reportedly heading for the Gold Cup again, but there's no overlooking his running out of steam when fourth (promoted to third) over the 2½m trip last year.

HAVANA BEAT (IRE) ran as well as could have been expected, his finishing closer to Brown Panther than in Dubai (fourth) due to the lower threshold involved in this steadier-run race, tracking the pace and sticking to the task but flattered if anything by his proximity to the first 2.

ROMSDAL finished one place ahead of Snow Sky in the St Leger, but excuses are wearing thin for him failing to hit the same heights this year, falsely-run races perhaps not his bag but where he stuck to his guns in the John Porter he folded here, fairly tamely at that, in pole position into the straight (had just taken it up 4f out) but never getting away and curling up in the final 1f; he's now rated more on his 2015 form.

TIMES UP age catching up with him, a fading force last year, bar a third in the Lonsdale, and there was little positive in this reappearances, even with the allowances of his first race back and the largely considerate handling, dropped out and never competitive.

ISLAND REMEDE out of her depth at this level, arguably not a good move for a horse who could be forgiven for becoming sour, so long without a win, keeping listed company; dictated until 4f out, soon dropped right away.