13:25
Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Registered As The John Porter Stakes) (Group 3)
Group 3, Class 1, 1m4f, Flat, 4yo+, 7 runners
Winning time 2m 33.64s
- Going
- Good
- Surface
- Turf
Result
David Probert
Andrew Balding
Set the pace from the off - drifted towards the middle of the track in the straight - driven with two furlongs left - fought back under pressure and dug in approaching the final furlong - drifted left close home and took a knock - held on for the win
Rossa Ryan
Tom Clover
Up with the front group on the inner - sharing 2nd place over 2f out - pressed hard for the lead inside the final furlong and drifted right with 110 yards to run clipping the winner - went down by a short head
Oisin Murphy
David Menuisier
Sat behind pace - checked slightly and settled tight in 5th with 7f to run - made easy progress into the pack over 2f out - locked in a battle for second - driven with a furlong left before finishing 3rd unable to find more
Hector Crouch
Ralph Beckett
Slow to break - settled towards back of field - pushed along and moved into 4th inside final 2f but no threat to front three
James Doyle
Andrew Balding
Held up towards rear - some improvement inside final furlong - unable to challenge - finished 5th
David Egan
Adrian Murray
Went to post on edge - settled just behind leader - pressed for effort with 3f left - dropped away in the closing stages to finish sixth
William Buick
Charlie Appleby
Sluggish start - improved wide to sit with front group after a furlong - drifted left under pressure 2f out then dropped away - finished well held in 7th
Draw in brackets. Headgear: b blinkers, v visor, h hood, t tongue strap, p cheekpieces, e/s eye shield; ¹ first time. C course winner, D distance winner, CD course and distance winner. Form reads oldest to newest.