Tag Archive for: Juddmonte International Stakes

City Of Troy sparkles to join Juddmonte International legends

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City Of Troy cemented his superstar status when dazzling from the front in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.

All conquering at two, Aidan O’Brien’s son of Justify left 2000 Guineas disappointment in the past with redemption both in the Derby at Epsom and then when registering a battling success in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

With many far from wowed by his heroics in Esher, an all-star cast assembled to take him on in the Ebor Festival’s opening-day highlight.

City Of Troy jumped out alertly in the hands of Ryan Moore, with the rider eager to make the most of his Classic-winning stamina.

Royal Rhyme, City Of Troy’s stablemate Hans Andersen and Ghostwriter were in his immediate slipstream, with Japanese raider Durezza also close by, while those from further back were keen to work their way into contention swinging into the straight.

The Aga Khan’s Calandagan burst out of the pack to lay down his challenge and continue Francis-Henri Graffard’s fine season, but as both the French raider and City Of Troy scorched clear of the field, the Royal Ascot winner was unable to reel in Ballydoyle’s star performer as he broke the course record previously held by Sea The Stars.

City Of Troy crossed the line a length clear of Calandagan, with Clive Cox’s Ghostwriter claiming third, as the 5-4 favourite silenced any remaining doubters in scintillating style.

City Of Troy impressed with his all-the-way win at York
City Of Troy impressed with his all-the-way win at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

“I’m obviously always saying too much about him and they are saying he smashed the course record there and it didn’t go according to plan,” said O’Brien.

“Ryan decided to make the running on him and what an incredible ride he gave him.

“I’m so delighted for the lads and we always felt he was something very different. Things haven’t gone right for him some days, but he still overcomes them which makes it very special.

“He is a horse who loves to be up with the pace and a strong pace and he gets it really well. Everything he does, he stays, he is tough and we’re hoping the lads might go to the (Breeders’ Cup) Classic with him, that would be some dream.

“He has natural pace out the stalls like Giant’s Causeway had but quicker. What happened in the Guineas frightened us and we didn’t want to do that any more, we wanted to drop him in and teach him to relax and do all the right things.

“He did it with Ryan unplanned today, so it was in there wanting to come out. It was incredible what he did there and the last half of the race, what he was doing was incredible, I thought he went through the line really strong.

“He is the best I have trained and we thought that as a two-year-old, we always thought that. He is the most special horse we’ve ever had. We went off the road the first run this year and right into the swamp, but for him to come out of it and to get to where he is today is incredible.”



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City Of Troy out to repel an International cast of challengers

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With expectations sky high once more, it is time for City Of Troy to do the talking again in Wednesday’s star-studded Juddmonte International at York.

Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore partners are very much on record with their views on the son of Triple Crown hero Justify, with O’Brien labelling him the best he has ever trained and Michael Tabor saying after last year’s Dewhurst “he’s our Frankel”.

He overcame a lacklustre run in the 2000 Guineas – for which O’Brien took full responsibility – to take the Derby in style and get his career firmly back on track, although in winning the Eclipse he was more workmanlike.

Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore celebrate with City Of Troy after winning the Derby
Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore celebrate with City Of Troy after winning the Derby (David Davies for The Jockey Club)

O’Brien blamed the soft ground at Sandown for what was visually a less than explosive display, but there should be no worries on that score this week and for a horse with a long stride, York’s four-furlong home straight should be ideal.

But with the best three-year-olds and older horses in opposition from all over Europe, as well as a top-class filly in Bluestocking and a winner of the Japanese St Leger winner, there will be no hiding place in what is the biggest field assembled since the inception of the race in 1972.

“We’ve been happy with him since the last day and obviously this was the race we had planned out for him and everything has gone well,” said O’Brien.

City Of Troy had to show what he is made of in winning the Eclipse
City Of Troy had to show what he is made of in winning the Eclipse (Steven Paston for The Jockey Club)

“The weather looks like it means the ground should be better than Sandown, and York has nice, long home straight that we hope will suit him given his stride.

“We always say we want to see the best horses in the best races.

“He’s just been unique all the way along. What he has been doing has just been on raw ability.

“We thought he was still green in the Derby and then we went to Sandown and we were happy there was plenty of time between Sandown and York to tweak a few things.”

Second to City Of Troy in the Derby was James Fanshawe’s Ambiente Friendly.

He then went on to the Irish Derby when he travelled like the winner for much of the contest but was seemingly outstayed by Los Angeles, who runs in the Great Voltigeur this week as a prep for the St Leger.

Most onlookers are of the opinion that Ambiente Friendly will be better off down at 10 furlongs and that is certainly the view of his jockey, Robert Havlin.

“If you stopped both Derbys at the two-furlong marker he’s probably the only one still on the bridle, so you would have to think that dropping back in trip will help,” he said, as he assessed his chance in what is another leg of the Qipco British Champions Series.

Ambiente Friendly (left) found only City Of Troy too good in the Derby
Ambiente Friendly (left) found only City Of Troy too good in the Derby (Adam Davy/PA)

“It looks like being the race of the season, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“I’d like to hope that he can reverse form (with City Of Troy). At the two-pole at Epsom I think most people would have been thinking he was the winner, and he’s mentally growing up all of the time.

“He’s the type of horse who you don’t have to squeeze off the bridle to get him to move up through the gears. He’s a really strong traveller with a very high cruising speed, and he goes up through the gears on the bridle.

“I think the slick track and strong pace at York will play to his strengths, and a big field is no problem, as he’s not lazy. If a gap appears he’s one that can instantaneously fill it, because he travels so well.”



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Japanese ace Durezza all set for City Of Troy clash at York

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Connections of Japanese raider Durezza are relishing a clash with Aidan O’Brien’s Derby hero City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York next week.

A winner of five of his eight starts, the Tomohito Ozeki-trained four-year-old has advertised both his versatility and class by striking over distances ranging from 10 furlongs to nearly two miles, and now makes his first venture overseas to contest one of the Ebor Festival’s showpiece events.

Although a winner of the Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) last October, the majority of his success has come over shorter and his team feel he has all the attributes to mix it with the best middle-distance horses in Europe, as he bids to join Agnes World and Deirdre as Japanese Group One winners in England.

“He has won the Japanese St Leger, but his other four wins have been around 10 furlongs,” said Yusuke Sai, racing manager for Japan’s Northern Farm, who bred the international contender.

“He is not a thorough stayer, he has a bit of class. He can stay, but we think 10 furlongs to a mile and a half is his best distance.

“For me the International Stakes is the best race in Europe and we are excited about running – especially against City Of Troy, who looks the best horse in Europe right now.”

The last Japanese participant in the race was Cheval Grand in 2019, while Zenno Rob Roy came closest to taking the valuable prize back to the Far East when a neck behind Electrocutionist in 2005.

Durezza is in Newmarket ahead of his trip to York next week
Durezza is in Newmarket ahead of his trip to York next week (Adam Morgan/PA)

A son of Japanese Derby winner Duramente – who also finished second to Postponed in the Dubai Sheema Classic – Durezza is owned by Carrot Farm which is affiliated to the Japanese powerhouse breeding operation Northern Farm.

The fingerprints of Northern Farm can be traced to the cream of Japanese crop including the great Deep Impact, six-time top-level winner Equinox and Dubai Turf scorer Almond Eye.

Having enjoyed big-race success on the international stage thanks to the likes of Equinox and Loves Only You, another victory in Britain is now in sight, as the breeders look to add to Deirdre’s Nassau Stakes victory in 2019.

Sai continued: “Winning Group Ones overseas is what we are targeting at Northern Farm. We have sent horses to Dubai and the Breeders’ Cup most years.

Equinox is one of the best horses bred by Northern Farm
Equinox is one of the best horses bred by Northern Farm (PA)

“Equinox was bred by Northern Form and he won in Dubai and both Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You won at the Breeders’ Cup are also great horses bred by Northern Farm.

“The CEO of Carrot Farm is a daughter of the CEO of Northern Farm so we are all part of the same family and Carrot Farm has a very close relationship with Northern Farm. Carrot Farm syndicate horses bred by Northern Farm.”

Durezza has been fine-tuning his preparations for the Knavesmire Group One in Newmarket as connections seek to fill a void in the calendar ahead of a potential Japan Cup bid later in the year.

Regular pilot Christophe Lemaire will jet in to partner Durezza for his Yorkshire date having missed his most recent outing in Kyoto’s Tenno Sho in April through injury.

Durezza is in Newmarket ahead of his trip to York next week
Durezza being put through his paces in Newmarket (PA)

And the colt’s team are confident the track at York will suit their globetrotter, whose odds for his big-race assignment range from 16-1 to 33s.

“It has always been the plan to race at York and he didn’t really go well last time,” added Sai, who was enjoying being back in the familiar setting of Charlie Fellowes’ Bedford Lodge Stables where he once worked when the yard played home to training great Luca Cumani.

“We have watched him carefully and he seems OK. There are only few options for Group One horses in Japan over the summer time and choosing one over 10 furlongs is why we brought him.

“His main target is the Japan Cup. It has always been in mind and he has had a nice break since his last run.

Christophe Lemaire will ride Durezza at York
Christophe Lemaire will ride Durezza at York (John Walton/PA)

“I think York is incredibly flat compared to other UK tracks and I think it will suit him for sure. He is happy and enjoying the weather. The Summer in Japan is terrible, it is very humid and too hot.

“Last time he ran, he kind of had heat stroke, so that is one reason we have brought him to run in nice cool weather. He’s relaxed and settled in well.”

He went on: “Christophe Lemaire is coming over to ride. He rode him in the Japanese St Leger and is the main jockey of Durezza – he couldn’t ride last time as he got injured in Dubai on World Cup night.”

Maljoom in action at Kempton
Maljoom in action at Kempton (John Walton/PA)

Another horse set to throw his hat into an increasingly hot Juddmonte International ring is Maljoom, who trainer William Haggas feels is ready to step up to a mile and a quarter for the first time after being placed in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood this summer.

“I’d like to step him up in trip and we’re planning to run him in the Juddmonte because hopefully the ground will be quick,” Haggas told Sky Sports Racing.

“Every time he’s run to me he’s looked like he wants further, even in that eyecatching run at Ascot (2022 St James Palace Stakes) where he stormed home and looked like if he’d gone another furlong he’d have won by three lengths.

“At Ascot in the Queen Anne against Charyn he was staying on all the way to the line, and at Goodwood it was always going to be a messy race, for me he got done for foot but he stayed on well.

“What we don’t know is whether he just wants a fast pace at a mile or he will stay further so we’re going to try it in a very strong race obviously, but he’s a very good horse.

“This should be very interesting. He’s not really bred to stay and the Carvaggios don’t all stay, but we’re going to give it a try and see what happens.

“He could go for an easier option in the Strensall Stakes and he will get an entry in the Strensall, but I feel it would be good to get him up in trip.”



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Alflaila pointing towards Juddmonte challenge

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Alflaila’s love affair with York looks likely to be put to the test in what could be a red-hot Juddmonte International later this month.

Owen Burrows’ five-year-old is three from four on the Knavesmire, having successfully defended his York Stakes crown recently.

The son of Dark Angel showed real tenacity to see off well-regarded pair King’s Gambit and Passenger in the hands of Jim Crowley, with connections thrilled to see the seven-time scorer enhance his record in Yorkshire.

The victory has earned him another shot in Group One company on the opening day of the Ebor meeting, where rivals could include Aidan O’Brien’s Derby hero City Of Troy and James Fanshawe’s Ambiente Friendly.

Angus Gold, racing manager for owners Shadwell, said: “He did a great job off that ridiculous pace. He showed all his old enthusiasm, I loved his attitude and it never looked like he would win in a million and then he put his head down and fought his way to the front in the last 100 yards.

“He’s a real trooper and Owen said that so far, touch wood, he has come out of it well.

Alflaila after winning the 2024 York Stakes (Molly Hunter/PA)
Alflaila after winning the 2024 York Stakes (Molly Hunter/PA)

“We’re going to head on now to the International if all stays well before then and I see no reason to not go there. We kept him in training to have a bit of fun with him and you always need these good older horses.

“I’m not saying he’s going to win it, but I hope he can be competitive at least. Hopefully he can go there and not be too far away. He’s a good old stick and the sort of horse you need to give everyone some good days out.”



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Mostahdaf makes all for famous International success

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Frankie Dettori produced a brilliant front-running ride aboard Mostahdaf as he lowered the colours of Paddington in a thrilling edition of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

Deputising for the suspended Jim Crowley aboard John and Thady Gosden’s Royal Ascot scorer, Dettori wasted little time in bouncing the 3-1 second favourite out of the stalls and quickly into stride, he set perfect fractions as the Shadwell-owned five-year-old made every yard of the running.

Although Ryan Moore received the desired response when asking Paddington to close the gap in the home straight, he ultimately had no answer to Mostahdaf who kept finding extra under an ultra-confident Dettori as he registered a length success and followed up the owner’s victory in the Group One contest with the imperious Baaeed 12 months ago.

Stablemate Nashwa edged her way past Paddington for the silver medal late on as the Clarehaven team enjoyed a fabulous one-two, but the day belonged to Dettori who by winning the race for the first time since 2007, moved past Lester Piggott to become the contest’s leading rider.

Frankie Dettori with his famous flying dismount at York
Frankie Dettori with his famous flying dismount at York (Mike Egerton/PA)

Mostahdaf’s success was another high-profile victory in the Shadwell colours in what has been a fine campaign, with Hukum’s King George verdict at Ascot and Al Husn’s Nassau win at Goodwood other moments to savour in recent weeks.

Shadwell’s racing manager Angus Gold said: “To win the races we’ve done this year has been incredible – the Prince of Wales’s, the King George, the Nassau and this (race). It’s been an amazing year.

“We have to enjoy it and be grateful. This was a proper race. I was sad for York and the crowd there were only four runners, but it was a quality race on paper and it lived up to its billing.

“We knew if we stood any chance of beating Paddington, we had to do something different rather than let him have his own way out in front again.

“Frankie proved a good substitute to have on the day. We weren’t too worried changing tack because this horse has won over a mile and a half, as long as Frankie got the pace right.”

Sky Bet Ebor Festival 2023 – Day One – York Racecourse
Mostahdaf (centre) got a fine ride from the front (Mike Egerton/PA)

John Gosden was full of praise for Dettori’s ride and said: “I think Frankie is like many of us, he’s getting better with age!

“At Ascot people questioned whether Mostahdaf was as good as he looked, but he’s probably stopped the clock in impressive fashion again.

“The filly (Nashwa) showed her class today as well having got stuck in the mud in the Nassau – it was brave to run her from the owner, he wanted to support British racing.

“The winner can handle good to soft, he just hated the bottomless ground in the Arc (when last in 2022). He just wants summer racing ground.

“It was the plan to make it a real test today. There was no point letting Ryan do his own thing. It was like Roberto and Brigadier Gerard all over again but the filly finished second, the other boy (Paddington) has been very busy.”

Dettori retires from the saddle at the end of the year and Gosden thinks he will be hard to match.

He added: “Frankie is the only man who can go to Longchamp and win from the front and have the French jockeys guessing. He’s a genius, he’s like a chameleon – he can adapt to any style.

“We’ll miss him and he’s winning a lot of big races right now, so you never know he might be back next year!”

Mostahdaf’s odds for a range of races were shortened after his victory, with Gosden planning to consult with Shadwell’s Sheikha Hissa before mapping out a definite target.

He said: “I’ve always thought he was a very good horse, but when he won the Neom Cup that was electric. We then stupidly tried him over a mile and a half again against the Japanese world champion (Equinox in the Sheema Classic) and got put in our box, but I think it will be 10 furlongs all the way now.

Sheikha Hissa and Frankie Dettori with Mostahdaf
Sheikha Hissa and Frankie Dettori with Mostahdaf (Mike Egerton/PA)

“You could probably get away with a mile and a half at the Breeders’ Cup round a few bends and down a hill, but I don’t think we’ll see that. I’ll see what the owner wants to do, she’s done wonderfully well, her father would be so proud of her and she follows them passionately.

“The Irish Champion has to be a possibility, but I always like to get home and make a decision after 10 days. Some are trying to persuade me to run him in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on the dirt, but I don’t know about that.

“I don’t think he has to have a big gap between his races it was just that he’d raced in the winter, then took on the great Japanese horse Equinox over a mile and a half, you then need a holiday. He did well for it so I thought I’d give him another.”



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Paddington and company all set for a battle royal on the Knavesmire

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Paddington continues his journey to superstardom in a Juddmonte International Stakes which may be short on numbers, but is bristling with quality at York on Wednesday.

The Group One contest has been won by some of the real greats and this year sees Aidan O’Brien’s all-conquering three-year-old up against a thriving Royal Ascot winner, a Classic-winning filly who cannot be dismissed lightly and a course-and-distance scorer yet to reach his ceiling.

It has been a phenomenal rise to the top for Paddington, who was competing in handicap company at the beginning of the season but has progressed through the ranks to become a multiple Group One winner and one of the best colts in training.

Paddington on parade before the Eclipse
Paddington on parade before the Eclipse (Andrew Matthews for The Jockey Club)

Having extended his winning run to seven in the Sussex Stakes when showcasing his dominance over a mile, the son of Siyouni now faces his toughest cast at 10 furlongs as he bids to join other Ballydoyle giants on the Knavesmire roll of honour.

Should Paddington be victorious, he would gain an automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Classic, a race O’Brien did not dismiss when speaking after the Sussex Stakes and in which he went so close with Giant’s Causeway, winner of the Juddmonte International in 2000.

“He’s an amazing horse really and all he’s done is progress with each race,” O’Brien said.

“There’s nothing much else I can say about him, every time we’ve asked him a question he keeps coming up with it.

“Everything has gone well with him since his last run. The ground is fine and we know he stays the trip.

“He went to the Coral-Eclipse for his first run over a mile and a quarter, so this is a little bit further on a flatter track.

“It will be interesting to see and we’ll take it race by race with him at the moment.”

Frankie Dettori is locked with Lester Piggott on five race victories and will get one final opportunity to become the leading rider as he deputises for the suspended Jim Crowley aboard John and Thady Gosden’s Mostahdaf.

The Italian last tasted success in the contest aboard his Derby hero Authorized in 2007, but it could prove worth the long wait as he links up with a Royal Ascot winner at the peak of his powers.

John Gosden said: “The plan has always been to come here after Royal Ascot. There’s no change in Plan A, it was always to give him the time.

“He benefited from time between Saudi Arabia and running in Dubai through to June and, again, we’ve taken a similar spacing with him. He’s fine.”

Mostahdaf was in a different class at Royal Ascot
Mostahdaf was in a different class at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)

A return to a mile and a quarter saw Mostahdaf thrive in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes where he romped to an imperious four-length triumph over a stellar cast and he has optimum yardage once again as he bids to give owners Shadwell back-to-back wins in the race following Baaeed’s memorable success 12 months ago.

“If I’m honest I was a bit surprised to see him win quite like that, but I probably shouldn’t have been after the way he won in Saudi earlier this year. He was very impressive there and really quickened,” explained Angus Gold, racing manager for the owners.

“I thought he ran well in the Sheema Classic at Meydan too, where Equinox just killed him off the bend and he didn’t get home, but I was still surprised to see just how well he was travelling against a proper Group One field at Royal Ascot, and just how well he quickened.

“I’d probably underestimated him, and it was great to see.”

He added ahead of the Qipco British Champions Series showpiece: “Frankie has had a sit on the horse. It was nothing testing, but he seemed very happy and John and his team were happy too.”

Hollie Doyle and Nashwa after the Falmouth Stakes
Hollie Doyle and Nashwa after the Falmouth Stakes (David Davies/PA)

Mostahdaf is joined in the select quartet by stablemate and last year’s Prix de Diane heroine Nashwa, who excelled in the Falmouth Stakes on her penultimate start and wasn’t disgraced when defending her Nassau Stakes at Goodwood most recently.

“The slow pace didn’t really suit her in the Nassau Stakes and the ground was not entirely to her liking,” said Gosden senior.

“But she’s a nice filly and it’s important to run in races of this nature.”

As usual, Hollie Doyle partners Nashwa, and she is full of hope.

“I’m always delighted to be getting back on Nashwa and I thought it was a solid run at Goodwood considering the slow pace and not very nice ground,” she said.

“They had an easy time on the front end and Nashwa moved up like the best filly in the race, but she’d possibly been further back than ideal on that ground, which probably blunted the turn of foot she showed in the Falmouth.

“She takes her races very well, and I’m hearing good reports from home through Teddy Grimthorpe (owner Imad Al Sagar’s racing manager).”

The Foxes (right) shone in the Dante Stakes
The Foxes (right) shone in the Dante Stakes (Mike Egerton/PA)

Andrew Balding’s Dante winner The Foxes completes the line-up with connections seeking an upset at a venue where he has proven form.

“The others may be proven at a higher level, but I do feel The Foxes is an improving horse and we haven’t seen the best of him yet,” said Alastair Donald, racing manager for owners King Power.

“It looks like he’ll get his preferred conditions of fast ground and we know he likes the course and distance. It might end up being a trappy race and, you never know, it’s worth being there.

“I think if there was a slow pace, which there might be, that would suit us as well, and you have to be excited about taking them on.”



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