The South African bred and raced Oracle West ran fifth in the Gr1 Canadian International two weeks ago. The son of Western Winter put up a fine performance when running multi millionaire Cloudy’s Knight (winner of five stakes races) to under two lengths at level weights.

 Second placed finisher, and favourite, Ask is a multiple Group winning son of Sadler’s Wells. He was sent over by Sir Michael Stoute for the prestigious Canadian race. The third placed runner, Quijano, was a Gp1 winner in Germany last time out and previously won a sequence 10 races in a row.

Champion Sky Conqueror were among the classy performers to finish behind Oracle West, who put one of his finest ever efforts here. 

In other South African campaigners news, the former Guineas winner Kapil was disappointing when unplaced in a Gp3 race at Newmarket.  Running in the Gp3 Bentinck Stakes, the Jallad gelding always looked outpaced in the six furlong sprint. He ran midfield, beaten just over six lengths by the progressive performer Greek Renaissance, a choicely bred son of Machiavellian. Sent off at 16-1, Kapil, while well beaten by the winner, ran close to a number of smart sprinters – notably Advanced, Patavellian and Galeota.