HAYDOCK PARK 15:30 216g5q

All 11 ran.

Time: 1m 9.1s Closing Sectional: (3f): 33.55s (103%)

Overrounds: Industry SP 113%, Betfair SP 103.1%

The sprinting division has thinned out a little since mid-summer, this like the July Cup missing the winners of the Diamond Jubilee and Commonwealth Cup, while also absent were the second and third from the first-named contest, though all bar 2 of these had contested that race, Starman unable to confirm himself the dominant sprinter of his generation that he'd promised to be there, seemingly undone by the emphasis so firmly on speed under these conditions, unable to peg back Emaraaty Ana, that horse taking his form to a new level since he was a 100/1 also-ran at Newmarket; Art Power set a strong gallop and the principals all came from mid-field or even further back, the form on the day a little short of the usual standard for this long-standing Group 1, Emaraaty Ana's rating the lowest since African Rose won the rescheduled version at Doncaster back in 2008.

EMARAATY ANA has turned a corner since mid-season, riding him a bit more patiently perhaps a factor, winning 2 of his last 3 and building even further on his Nunthorpe second to win in Group 1 company for the first time, a second pattern win in his career, following the Gimcrack in 2018; mid-division, took strong hold, loomed up 2f out, led over 1f out, just held on; he had what are probably his optimum conditions here, something that isn't necessarily true of his rivals, or what he's likely to face in Europe later in the season, his trainer reportedly favouring at a tilt at the Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint, a race he won last year with Glass Slippers.

STARMAN was a strong favourite with his July Cup effort suggesting he was a bit of a standout in this field, but he failed to reproduce it for a second time since, the ground no excuse this time, ironically such a firm surface arguably contributing to his defeat, with conditions placing the emphasis a bit too much on speed for him on this flatter track; mid-field, caught flat-footed after pushed along over 2f out, began to make headway inside final 1f, finished well, just failed; it remains the case that he's the most talented sprinter on these shores, but the circumstances under which he's likely to show it are looking narrower.

CHIL CHIL bounced back to her best to gain a significant Group 1 placing with her broodmare career in mind, suited by the step back up to 6f having been a little taken off her feet in the Nunthorpe; held up, ridden over 2f out, edged left over 1f out, kept on; she's likeable, but it's unlikely she'll be anything but a bit-part player at this level.

HAPPY ROMANCE (IRE) is evidently at her best coming late off a strong pace, running at least as well in defeat as when winning in Group 3 company the time before, though her proximity alongside the third does put something of a cap on the level of the form; held up, ridden over 2f out, late headway.

ART POWER (IRE) was on firmer ground than previously, conditions not appearing to be the problem and he shaped as if back in good form, not seen to best effect with his rider making too much use of him; forced pace, shaken up over 2f out, headed over 1f out, weakened; he has plenty of good runs in top company, but hasn't won at above Group 3 level and finding easier pickings for him in the short term might be the way to go.

CREATIVE FORCE (IRE) has found his progress stalling since forced to take on his elders, but he's better judged on his July Cup and Lennox efforts than this, not seen to best effect granted an out-and-out speed test and also meeting trouble; stumbled start, held up, pushed along around halfway, keeping on when short of room close home, not recover; it's a bit unfortunate that connections also have Space Blues for the targets that look most suitable for him.

GARRUS (IRE) had won a Group 3 in last time, that clearly more his level and he ran respectably, this his third mid-field finish in a Group 1 this season; mid-field, pushed along halfway, not quicken.

SUMMERGHAND (IRE) had produced a career-best last week, but faced a stiff task back in this grade and probably remains in form, the race just getting away from him; dropped out, pushed along over 2f out, late headway.

SUPREMACY (IRE) fared no better than in the July Cup, his 3-y-o career a let-down given what he achieved as a juvenile; chased leader, ridden over 2f out, left behind soon after.

GLEN SHIEL has produced his best efforts in this country on going softer than good and was possibly unsuited by conditions, though he'd also been below par in the time before; dived right leaving stalls, mid-division, pushed along around halfway, weakened inside final 1f.

NANDO PARRADO faced a stiffer task in this grade; bumped start, held up, took strong hold, pushed along over 2f out, no response.