Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International S. at York–a “Win And You're In” for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Turf–has the feel of an epic, with a G1 Prince of Wales's S. winner trading at 50-1 providing some measure of its depth despite attracting only seven runners. Favoured at present is Godolphin's Barney Roy (GB) (Excelebration {Ire}), who went so close to pegging back Ulysses (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in a strong if messy edition of the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown July 8, having won the G1 St James's Palace S. in which Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) mis-fired at Royal Ascot June 20. Those efforts came after an impressive G3 Greenham S. success at Newbury Apr. 22 and second in the G1 2000 Guineas at Newmarket May 6, where the run of the race was against him. His green style of racing seems to suggest there could be something special in the offing and trainer Richard Hannon is quietly confident that this straightforward track will bring out the best in him.
“He heads there in fantastic order and the Juddmonte looks the ideal race for him,” he said. “It was a great run for a 3-year-old at Sandown and it was such a shame to get beaten. The Eclipse form has been boosted by the victory of Eminent last Tuesday and I think he will take all the beating.”
James Doyle added, “His most impressive attribute is his length of stride. The amount of ground he can cover in just one bound is enormous. That's why York's Knavesmire will play to his strengths. The very nature of the Sandown course was a major concern before the race. The undulations make it hard for a young horse such as 'Barney' to stretch out fully. It is a very strong field for this year's Juddmonte. It is hard to pinpoint one who shouldn't be there. It is a cracker of a race in prospect.”
Despite his lacklustre fourth in the St James's Palace, Churchill has been elected over the likes of Winter (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) to represent Ballydoyle here and has been picked by Ryan Moore over a valid contender in 'TDN Rising Star' Cliffs of Moher (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). His performance in the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh May 27 was arguably more impressive than the Newmarket one three weeks earlier, but he has a question mark hanging over him following his Royal Ascot run and his absence from the G1 Sussex S. due to the heavy conditions. Aidan O'Brien is keen to play down expectations.
“It wasn't ideal–we had him over there and it was just one of the freak weather things, I suppose,” he said in reference to the Glorious Goodwood situation. “But he seems to have been well since. He hasn't done an awful lot, because it's not long ago and he was fit going to Goodwood. Obviously, we would have preferred if we had a run, but that's the way it is. We've always thought a mile and a quarter would be within his compass. Everything seems well with him since Goodwood, so we're looking forward to it.”
With no obvious pace angle, it could be that Cliffs of Moher is asked to stretch on under the front-running supremo Seamie Heffernan as he did with such prowess when winning his maiden at Leopardstown in October. His effort when runner-up in the June 4 G1 Epsom Derby was high-class and his subsequent fourth in the Eclipse is no true measure of his ability after the well-documented trouble he ran into early on.
“He suffered very bad interference in Sandown and I suppose he was lucky, really, not to fall,” O'Brien said. “But he has been well since and we have been happy with his work.”
Ulysses has proven twice that he is more than a match for the 3-year-old colts and there was significant merit in his latest effort when second to the peerless Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the G1 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth S. at Ascot July 29.
“He's competent at both trips,” said Sir Michael Stoute. “He loves top of the ground, but he goes on any. You've only got to look at the King George and you've got your evidence there. I think it will be a high-quality race, it's very interesting. We've had some great races for the International in the past and we'll probably have a great one this time.”
The other two Group 1 winners in the line-up are the May 28 Tattersalls Gold Cup hero Decorated Knight (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), who was second in the G1 Prince of Wales's S. at Royal Ascot June 21 and sixth in the Eclipse, and last year's Prince of Wales's winner My Dream Boat (Ire) (Lord Shanakill) who sports a visor for the first time after his seventh in the King George.
The former's trainer Roger Charlton said, “The Eclipse was rough, very rough, and he didn't have much chance. He's taking on the best around, but he's had a nice break and is in good form.”
Interestingly, the sponsors are represented by an outsider in Shutter Speed (GB) (Dansili {GB}), but the 'TDN Rising Star' has course-and-distance winning form from the May 17 G3 Musidora S., was beaten less than two lengths when fourth in the G1 Prix de Diane at Chantilly June 18 and comes from the John Gosden stable unaccustomed to tilting at windmills. If, as Enable has suggested, the 3-year-old fillies are better than the colts in 2017, she is a fascinating contender in a race in which a member of her sex with similar credentials in Arabian Queen (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) managed to upstage Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) two years ago.
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