The Group 1 Juddmonte International is so often one of the strongest flat races internationally. The likes of Ghaiyyath, Baaeed and City Of Troy have contributed to that reputation in recent seasons and this year’s renewal looks set to be a match for those. GG tipster Joe Napier previews the race and gives his verdict.
Favourites
The one-two from Sandown’s dramatic running of the Coral-Eclipse renew what could prove to be a sensational rivalry. That day, Delacroix remarkably got the better of Ombudsman, flying home late in the day having looked booked to be last of six. He bounced back brilliantly from a disappointment in the Derby, but this 1m2f trip clearly suits him better and he is unlikely to be busted about quite as much in running here.
The three-year-old allowance has dropped by 3lb compared to early July though, so he will have to have improved once more, especially as Ombudsman can claim his own hard luck story from Sandown. Through the hustle and bustle, he ended up directly chasing a furious pace, likely paying for that in the final furlong and is another likely to run better than that day. Just a neck separated the Ballydoyle and Clarehaven runners and the margins will surely be close once again.
International Contenders
Japan’s reputation on the turf has only grown in recent seasons and Danon Decile was their latest Group 1 scorer on the global stage when impressively landing the Dubai Sheema Classic during the World Cup meeting back in April. Fellow Japanese runner Durezza, fifth in this last year, was third that day, so that looks respectable in this context, especially with King George winner Calandagan having been runner-up. Nevertheless, the drop back to 1m2f does not match his form profile, with him seemingly having needed every yard of 1m4f to be at his best.
The other international contender is the unbeaten Daryz. Very much the unknown quantity, he is trained by the all-conquering Francis-Henri Graffard, fresh from sending out his second straight King George hero with Calandagan. That horse was second last year, although Daryz is very less exposed than his stablemate was this time 12 months ago. He has won four form four, impressing in particular at Longchamp, though his Group 2 win at Saint-Cloud last time out, though decisive, has taken a few formbook hits since.
Outsiders
She is not a huge price, but the least likely of the British and Irish-trained trio at current prices is See The Fire. Her standout piece of form remains her extraordinary 12-length rout in the Group 2 Middleton Fillies’ Stakes earlier this season, which came over course and distance. Her third in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot was solid behind Ombudsman, but likely exposes her limitations at this level, even returning to the track and trip she so excelled at, and she also only third in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, with the flag start only excusing that performance so much.
Birr Castle makes up the sextet. Although also a raider for France, the Gosdens have called upon Godolphin to supplement him as a pacemaker for this race in order to increase Ombudsman’s chances. His form is solid, and punters will be wary of the pacemaker after Qirat in the Sussex Stakes, but he is comfortably the bottom-rated runner in the line-up.
Verdict
There are unknowns about both global raiders, with Danon Decile possessing strong form over 1m4f, but not 1m2f, and Daryz unexposed but requiring a significant further step forward. A win for either would not be a major shock, but the Eclipse contested by Delacroix and OMBUDSMAN was a serious battle and both could be capable of better still. The form is taken to be overturned here, with pacemaker Birr Castle potentially giving a tactical edge to the selection, but his year-younger counterpart should also be able to race more freely than he did for the majority of the Sandown contest and it should be close again. See The Fire’s clear career best came over course and distance, and a repeat would see her competitive as well.
- Ombudsman
- Delacroix
- Danon Decile
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