G1 Juddmonte International Stakes

For a long while in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International Stakes, it looked as if we would have another pacemaker summer shock but ultimately the class of Godolphin's Prince of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) told once again and common sense prevailed on the Knavesmire. Blessed with the best acceleration of the sextet, the Gosdens' 7-4 favourite was the first to claw back the operation's rabbit Birr Castle (Cloth Of Stars), who was proverbially in another district under Rab Havlin turning for home, and register a 3 1/2-length defeat of...

Wednesday, York, Britain, post time: 15:35, THE JUDDMONTE INTERNATIONAL STAKES-G1, £1,319,375, 3yo/up, 10f 56yT Field: Birr Castle (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}), Danon Decile (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}), Ombudsman (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), See The Fire (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Daryz (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Delacroix (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}). TDN Verdict: As fascinating as it should be, one of Britain's monuments sees the Eclipse one-two Delacroix and Ombudsman re-engage with a different pace scenario thanks to the addition of Birr Castle. Danon Decile has also made it in...

Coolmore's G1 Eclipse hero Delacroix (Dubawi) will renew rivalry with Godolphin's Sandown runner-up Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder) and is one of six runners booked for Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York after three of nine overnight contenders were scratched from the extended 10-furlong contest at Monday morning's declaration stage. The former will attempt to provide Aidan O'Brien with a record-extending eighth renewal from stall three, while Ombudsman bids to regain the winning thread from stall five. Godolphin is also represented by the Andre Fabre-trained £85,000 supplementary entry Birr Castle...

With his win in the G3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes this past Wednesday, The Lion In Winter (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has broken the fillies' stranglehold on the Timeform 2-year-old rankings, having taken up the mantel as the second-highest juvenile this season. The effort at York earned a 115p, which puts him behind stablemate Bedtime Story (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) at 116p but ahead of Babouche (GB) (Kodiac {GB}) with a 113p and Fairy Godmother (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) at 112p. The new rating is the highest by a juvenile...

   York's G1 Juddmonte International was designed to bring the very best to the famous Knavesmire venue and it has achieved that on Wednesday with City Of Troy (Justify) ready to rock and roll over the flat, fair mile-and-a-quarter. Due to a variety of factors beyond his control, Michael Tabor's 'Frankel' has probably yet to show his true material, with slow ground on Future Champions Day and in the Eclipse blunting his speed and heavy traffic on the contours at Epsom curtailing his impressive stride. There is a feeling that...

Coolmore's G1 Derby and G1 Eclipse hero City Of Troy (Justify) is set to face one dozen rivals from stall five in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International after 13 were declared for the £1.25-million feature on the opening day of York's Ebor Festival. Trainer Aidan O'Brien will also be represented by Hans Andersen (GB) (Frankel {GB}) after trimming weekend winner Continuous (Jpn) (Heart's Cry {Jpn}) and G1 Irish Derby victor Los Angeles (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) from his overnight team of four. The home defence is headed by G1 Derby runner-up and...

Shadwell star Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) will target the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes later this month, racing manager Angus Gold confirmed on Sunday. The 5-year-old Owen Burrows trainee won his third race in four starts on the Knavesmire, his second G2 York Stakes last month. Gold said, "He's a real trooper and Owen said that so far, touch wood, he has come out of it well. "We're going to head on now to the International if all stays well before then and I see no reason to not go...