The Juddmonte International is the feature race on the opening day of York’s Ebor festival and this year’s renewal of the Group 1 provides racing fans with another opportunity to see the exceptional Baaeed take to the track. Check out our runner-by-runner guide to the contest, alongside bet365’s latest offer where new customers can claim £50 in free bets when they bet £10.
All odds are bet365 – Prices correct at the time of publish
1. ALENQUER (NON-RUNNER)
2. BAAEED (William Haggas, Jim Crowley) 2/5
The world’s highest-rated horse and brought his career record to an unblemished 9-9 when taking the Group 1 Sussex Stakes last time out. All nine starts to date have come over a mile but he’s bred to stay at least this far (dam 1m2f Listed winner) and this race has been on his radar all season. Certainly wouldn’t mind a bit of rain and on official ratings, he’s the one to beat, but his price does look a little prohibitive given that this is, without doubt, his toughest test to date.
3. DUBAI HONOUR (William Haggas, Tom Marquand) 50/1
Very progressive at 3, producing form figures of 411124, his first run coming in handicaps and the last two at Group 1 level. Hasn’t quite matched his peak efforts in a couple of 2022 starts, finishing down the field in the Dubai Sheema Classic before being beaten (albeit by just a nose) at odds of 5/4F by Sir Busker in a Group 2 over this track and trip last month. Difficult to fancy in this company on the back of that showing and there’s little doubt that Baaeed is the stable’s main hope.
4. HIGH DEFINITION (Aidan O’Brien, Ryan Moore) 50/1
Unbeaten in two juvenile starts and one-time Derby favourite, but he remains without a win since the 2020 Beresford Stakes, his losing run brought to nine when only sixth in the Group 1 Prix de Saint-Cloud last time out. Beaten favourite in both previous starts here at York, and although he’s a far bigger price here there’s no reason to believe that he’s up to troubling the very best of these.
5. MISHRIFF (John & Thady Gosden, James Doyle) 4/1
Ran well in defeat in the Coral-Eclipse and King George before bolting up in this contest 12 months ago, and he comes into this year’s renewal on the back of a similar prep. Unfortunate not to take last month’s Coral-Eclipse when a fast-finishing second, and he can have a subsequent King George third upgraded as he lost plenty of ground at the start. 1m4f just stretches his stamina and he’ll be happier back over this trip, whilst it’ll also be to his benefit if he manages to leave the stalls better. Baaeed is undoubtedly a fearsome opponent but if he’s back to last year’s level he should give the favourite plenty to think about.
6. SIR BUSKER (William Knight, Ben Curtis) 66/1
Popular 6yo who broke an over two-year-long losing run when getting up in a head bob to take the Group 2 York Stakes (Dubai Honour second) over this course and distance last time out. Despite placed efforts, he remains 0-6 at Group 1 level, however, and some of those races lacked the depth that this contest carries. Worth his place in the line-up but won’t be troubling the likes of Baaeed and Mishriff.
7. NATIVE TRAIL (Charlie Appleby, William Buick) 15/2
Last season’s leading juvenile who bounced back from a 2000 Guineas defeat when claiming the Irish equivalent at the Curragh in May. Upped in trip for the Coral-Eclipse last time and he ran another fine race to finish third, just a half-length behind Vadeni. Endured a far more trouble-free passage than Mishriff there, however, and had a race-fitness edge over that rival. Still open to improvement after just eight starts and his stable is going through a real purple patch, but that Sandown running suggests he needs to find more to reverse form with Mishriff.
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Verdict
A mouth-watering clash between two of the highest-rated horses in the world. Baaeed sits atop of the rankings and comes into this with an unblemished 9-9 record, whilst his pedigree suggests that this new trip won’t be a problem, there’s just a niggling doubt that he hasn’t been winning by miles this season, and that opens the door for MISHRIFF to snatch this prize late on. John & Thady Gosden’s charge looked like a world beater when bolting up in this contest 12 months ago, and although 0-4 since he probably should have claimed the Coral-Eclipse on penultimate run before once again finding 1m4f a stretch of his stamina in the King George. This is about his optimum trip and, as mentioned, if he can keep Baaeed within catching distance he can run that rival down late and retain his Juddmonte crown. Native Trail is the sole 3yo colt in this line-up and the form from that demographic received a couple of knocks over the weekend, he’s capable of finishing third but should find the top two too strong.
- MISHRIFF
- Baaeed
- Native Trail
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