The mile division has provided some class this year.

Victor Ludorum was an exciting two-year-old who justified favoritism when he won the Poule d’Essai des Poulains the first week in June, a week later Kameko won the English Guineas (Pinatubo in third) breaking the track record at Newmarket and the following week Siskin added to the spice with a quality performance in the Irish Guineas.

It all spelt quality in the three year old milers.

At Royal Ascot Circus Maximus put down a marker for the four-year-olds when winning the Queen Anne while Palace Pier put in a class performance in the St James’s Palace Stakes to add another layer of depth to the three-year-old form.

The failure so far of the season was Pinatubo, the sensational two-year-old could only manage third at Newmarket behind Kameko and while he did improve to second at Ascot he was in truth no match for Palace Pier. Was he beaten by very good milers or was it he just didn’t stay the trip?

To answer the question Charlie Appelby dropped him to seven furlongs for the Jean Prat where he nailed it looking like the horse we saw at two.

You felt it was all set up for the clash of the generations to come.

Goodwood and the Sussex Stakes would be the first test. Circus Maximus and both three-year-old’s Guineas winners, Kameko and Siskin ran but none of them could match the four-year-old Mohaather who looked imperious in winning.

Next up was the Jacques Le Marois, Palace Pier backed up the Ascot run on heavy ground with Circus Maximus well back in third and Persian King further back in fourth. Suddenly the picture had changed. The evidence of Goodwood suggesting the three-year old’s were behind was turned on it’s head.

Pinatubo’s run at Ascot behind Palace Pier had a different shine as did his Jean Prat run. You can see why Charlie Appleby would be tempted by the step back up in trip. Dropped in he had the gears to go and put the race to bed at Deauville, the engine is most definitely still there.

The wheels have come off for Victor Ludorum since the French Guineas win, third twice since, both over ten furlongs, the hope is the return to a mile will bring him back to the big time.

The only five year old in the race, Ken Condon’s Romanised will have his connections praying for drying ground. Just touched off in this last year by Circus Maximus he’d looked as good as ever when taking the Minstrel Stakes at the Curragh. That was his warm-up for the Jacques Le Marois where he’d no hope on the heavy ground.

And what of Siskin, Ireland’s best two-year-old last year produced the goods at the Curragh but at Goodwood when in against the older horses he found things much tougher. Colin Keane dropped him in, but he never looked balanced, he came to win it but couldn’t sustain the run, swallowed by Mohaather, he couldn’t get by Circus Maximus who held on for second. Was it the track, the camber pulling his feet where he didn’t want them to go.

The evidence suggests the three-year old’s have the advantage after the Jacques Le Marois. Pinatubo’s engine back in full working order might just be a furlong short, Victor Ludorum could restore his reputation but it’s Siskin who stands out. He’ll benefit from this flatter track, if he finds his balance his feet will do the talking.

Recommendation: Siskin 5/1 win