James Doyle has labeled Poet's Word (Ire) (Poet's Voice {GB}) as one of the “toughest horses he has ridden” ahead of a high-class eight-horse G1 Juddmonte International S. at York on Wednesday. Sir Michael Stoute's stable star, who has already won the G1 Prince of Wales's S. and the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S. this season will be facing six other Group 1 winners, among them Godolphin's Saeed bin Suroor-trained duo in recent German Group 1 victor Benbatl (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and G1 Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}).
“He's a worthy favourite coming off the back of successive Group 1 wins in tough races and, as you can imagine, I'm excited about riding him in the top race of week,” said Doyle. “He's as tough a horse as I've ever ridden–he doesn't shirk the issue. He really put his head and neck down in the King George and stretched all the way to the line. He was very brave.”
Doyle does not see the issue of dropping back down in trip causing a problem, either and added, “He's versatile and showed a good kick in the Prince of Wales's. He's got plenty of other good form over a mile and quarter, too, such as when beaten a neck in the [G1] Irish Champion S.”
John Gosden has opted to keep MG1SW Cracksman (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in the yard as the ground continues to dry out, but does field G1 Eclipse S. hero Roaring Lion (Kitten's Joy) and G1 St. James's Palace S. winner and Without Parole (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Aidan O'Brien's G1 English 2000 Guineas hero Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) returns off a second in the July 7 Eclipse. O'Brien's son Joseph is also represented by the 2018 G1 Irish Derby scorer Latrobe (Ire) (Camelot {GB}).
Thundering Blue (Exchange Rate), winner of the G2 York S. on July 28, completes the octet after being supplemented.
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