In a finish that saw the first 12 past the post bred in Europe, the Irish-trained three-year-old (by Northern Hemisphere time) Rekindling staged a strong staying effort in winning. Given a perfect trip by Corey Brown from barrier four, Rekindling travelled nicely in tenth place on the rails, behind a reasonable tempo, improved between runners nearing the home turn to be just behind the leading group on straightening. He went to second at the 200m and finished too well under his light weight (51.5kg) to win well. The Aiden O’Brien-trained Johannes Vermeer also had a good trip from a favourable barrier (3) racing in fifth place on the rails. He moved up well on turning for home, looked the winner when took the lead at the 300m and then fought back gamely at his first run beyond 2400m for (long neck) second. Another Irish-trained runner Max Dynamite, who was second in this race in 2015, completed a perfect result for Irishtrained runners in finishing third. He too had a good run from an ideal barrier (2) racing in seventh place on the rails before improving behind the leaders at the home turn. Zac Purton got him through a split, going to third at the 300m and he then kept fighting on gamely to take the minor placing. Big Duke raced in 12th place, on the rails, went between runners at the home turn going to sixth at the 300m and then kept battling on well for (5.7 lengths) fourth. Nakeeta was back in 17th place, went closer to the rails on turning for home, going to eighth at the 200m and then kept fighting on to finish (6.5 lengths) fifth. Thomas Hobson settled near last from his difficult barrier (20), improved (deep) nearing the home turn and kept running on well under his light weight (52kg) for (8.8 lengths) sixth. Of the other favoured runners, Marmelo had a good trip in fourth place before moving up well to take the lead at the home turn and then finished (9.9 lengths) ninth. Red Cardinal was near last before making some ground for (12 lengths) 11th, last year’s winner Almandin was midfield and battled on for (12 lengths) 12th while Humidor (17 lengths) 19th and Hartnell (29 lengths) 20th appeared tested by the 3200m trip.