The first Group 1 of York’s Ebor meeting is the Juddmonte International Stakes – and what a race it is shaping up to be. With more runners this year than the last two renewals combined, Joe Napier looks into the star-studded field and gives his verdict.
A strong Aidan O’Brien favourite was downed last year, when the three-year-old Paddington’s unbeaten run was ended by Mostahdaf, given a fine front-running ride by Frankie Dettori.
CITY OF TROY
(Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
We should not let Paddington be too much of an omen for City Of Troy. Last year’s beaten odds-on favourite was having his seventh race of an unusually packed 2023, whereas the prodigal son of Justify arrives here for just his fourth start of this calendar year with healthy breaks in between. By the time he lines up on Wednesday, it will be 46 days since his Eclipse triumph.
That race has worked out significantly better than believed at the time, with runner-up Al Riffa scorching to Group 1 success in France since and well-held fourth See The Fire going desperately close to winning the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. That might not have been City Of Troy at his best either, though that could also be down to this 1m2½f trip. Either way, we now know he is a talented horse, although connections may not have expected the field to be quite this deep, nor this strong.
CALANDAGAN
(Francis-Henri Graffard/Stephane Pasquier)
Having sent out the shock winner of the King George last month, Francis-Henri Graffard could continue his proud representation of France in this, the Olympic month, should Calandagan maintain his upward trajectory and win this contest. He is now a winner of four of his six starts and could barely have been more impressive at Royal Ascot.
Seeking a hat-trick when taking his place in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes, he routed his opposition by six lengths over 1m4f. He was putting more and more distance between himself and the runner-up by the line and clearly possesses superb ability. The issue may be that he did his best work at the end of a longer trip last time out, while that form has subsequently taken some hits. He perhaps has more to prove than a second favourite should in a race of this stature.
AMBIENTE FRIENDLY
(James Fanshawe/Robert Havlin)
It has been a terrific season for Ambiente Friendly, but connections will no doubt be ruing the fact it includes just one victory in four starts. That success was impressive, convincingly dispatching subsequent Group 1 runner-up Illinois by 4½ lengths in the Lingfield Derby Trial, only to see City Of Troy career away from him at Epsom.
However, this could be a big chance for revenge. He travelled beautifully through the Classic, only being tapped for toe by a canny ride from Ryan Moore and his stamina giving way late on. That was further evidenced when he failed to get beyond Los Angeles in the Irish equivalent four weeks later, but a step back to 1m2½f could prove ideal. Quick ground suits and even if Hans Andersen sets a strong gallop, that could benefit him as much as the favourite.
BLUESTOCKING
(Ralph Beckett/Rossa Ryan)
We may have expected Bluestocking to appear among the declarations for Thursday’s Group 1 Yorkshire Oaks, and she still might, but it is a statement of intent from Juddmonte and Ralph Beckett that they may chance their arm against the boys with their star filly. Just 25 days on from her game second in the King George, she is doing battle in open company again.
It may prove too quick a turnaround, as it has been a busy enough schedule for her over the summer months. However, she won her Group 1 at around this trip, and was rampant when waltzing to success over course and distance against her own sex back in May. If still fully fit to give her best, she is in with a tremendous each-way chance again.
THE FIELD
Heading the nine others set to make up this bumper field is Alflaila for Owen Burrows. He is now a two-time winner of the course and distance Group 2 York Stakes and has a solid strike rate over his career. However, two Group 1 defeats behind Auguste Rodin suggest he has something to find even if this is his optimum venue.
He was behind Jerome Reynier’s Zarakem in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes earlier in the season, yet the second French raider is more than twice the price in places. That feels like a market misstep purely given the track and Alflaila’s recent victory, but Zarakem could be in the mix if the gallop is strong enough. Another international runner in Durezza for Japan is more of an unknown, but he is a Group 1 winner, and middle distance horses from the nation have tended to excel on the world stage in recent years.
Docklands and Maljoom will be stepping up in trip from 1m here, though both are dubious stayers on pedigree. Israr could be the forgotten horse for Shadwell Estate and the Gosdens, the defending champions of this prize, after he won so readily at Royal Ascot. That was nominally a Listed race, but was surely stronger, and William Buick will surely want to be prominent.
The only other three-year-old left to mention is Eclipse third Ghostwriter, who is clearly an animal of admirable ability, but there do not appear to be many reasons he can reverse form with City Of Troy from Sandown. Hans Andersen is in here to set the pace as ever, with Royal Rhyme the outsider otherwise. He will need significant rain to enhance any small chances he has.
York Ebor Festival Day 1 Trends – Key Pointers For Wednesday On The Knavesmire
It’s day one of York’s Ebor Festival on Wednesday with the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes the feature race of the day. Our trends guru Dave Young is back with all his vital pointers, trends and statistics for a sparkling curtain-raiser to four fabulous days on the Knavesmire. 13:50 – SYMPHONY GROUP HANDICAP – CLASS…
Thu 15 Aug 2024
VERDICT
City Of Troy is the likeliest winner, but even though his price has drifted beyond evens, a field this size with lots of top class potential is too much of an opportunity to take him on. Bluestocking may well give her running again, but for Derby runner-up AMBIENTE FRIENDLY, this could be his one great chance to overturn Epsom form with the favourite. This trip should suit him better, he has been freshened up since third in the Irish Derby, and Rab Havlin will be more aware of every move Ryan Moore makes. Zarakem may prove the more dangerous of the French-trained pair despite what the market thinks, and makes appeal at longer odds for those seeking each-way alternatives, along with Israr for last year’s winning connections.
- Ambiente Friendly
- City Of Troy
- Bluestocking
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