G1 Juddmonte International S.

Brilliant horses like City Of Troy (Justify--Together Forever {Ire}, by Galileo {Ire}) are always on the line when it comes to reputation and aura and there was no disguising the fact that Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International represented his moment of truth regardless of prior achievements. Despite coming to York as a clear-cut 2-year-old champion, an impressive Derby winner and the current holder of an Eclipse, there was a tension in the atmosphere on the storied Knavesmire expanse that was accompanied by threatening and brooding clouds and a strange autumnal air....

Just 35 minutes after Ryan Moore had given a copybook off-the-pace ride in the G2 Great Voltigeur, Frankie Dettori provided a masterclass of his own with a pillar-to-post exhibition aboard Shadwell's Mostahdaf (GB) (Frankel {GB}--Handassa {GB}, by Dubawi {Ire}) in a stellar renewal of York's G1 Juddmonte International as the Knavesmire crowd was treated to high-end examples of elite horsemanship on the opening day of the Ebor Festival. The G1 Prince Of Wales's S. victor was sharply into stride and soon held a three-length buffer, with Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr})...

The late Prince Khalid Bin Abdullah has been posthumously inducted into the QIPCO British Champions Series Hall of Fame, and is just the second person to be recognised within the Special Contributor category. He follows in the footsteps of 2021 inductee Queen Elizabeth II. Chosen by an independent panel of experts, in recognition of his contribution to the sport, his achievements through the breeding and racing operation Juddmonte leave a lasting legacy. The Prince's induction will be officially marked through a special presentation at York Racecourse on Wednesday, Aug. 23,...

Derby hero Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) has been withdrawn from Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International after injuring himself during a workout on Sunday morning, according to owner Saeed Suhail's racing manager Bruce Raymond. "[He] pulled up lame after breezing this morning; [he's] being assessed at [the] equine hospital, [his] career [is] in balance," Raymond told racing broadcaster Nick Luck on Sunday. A winner at first asking at two, the Sir Michael Stoute trainee swept the G2 Dante S. over the Knavesmire last May and won the Derby by 2 1/2...

Derby runner-up King Of Steel (Wootton Bassett {GB}), last seen when third in the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. last month, will skip the Aug. 23 G1 Juddmonte International S. and instead target the G1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion S. on Sept. 9. "We didn't confirm him today for York," said Tom Pennington, racing manager for owners, Amo Racing. "I know when you look at the prize-money and think it could be quite a small field, you might get a bit carried away, but we are going...

Dual Group 1 winner Desert Crown (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}), who won the Derby and King George in 2022, emerged from his Wednesday gallop in good order and is on target for the G1 Juddmonte International on Aug. 2. "Desert Crown worked this morning, he worked nicely and everybody was happy with him," said Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. "He's not a great worker, as has been stated before, but everyone was very happy with him this morning and everything went as well as expected." The Sir Michael...

Shadwell's Alflaila (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) may be supplemented to the Sept. 9 G1 Irish Champion S., sidestepping Shadwell-owned Mostahdaf (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in next week's GI Juddmonte International at York. Trained by Owen Burrows, Alflaila is on a four-race winning skein, taking the July 29 G2 York S. over the same course and distance as the International. "It's unlikely at this stage that we would run the two against each other, I would think," said Shadwell's racing manager Angus Gold. "God willing, Mostahdaf stays in good shape--he'll be the...

Four-time Group 1 winner Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) continues to thrive ahead of the Aug. 23 G1 Juddmonte International at York, Aidan O'Brien confirmed on Saturday. The consistent Coolmore runner is six-for-seven and has won the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, G1 St James's Palace S., the G1 Eclipse and the G1 Sussex S. in succession. "He's good and everything is good so far with him. The Juddmonte is still the plan," said O'Brien. Ballydoyle's master trainer also had an update on G1 Derby and G1 Irish Derby hero Auguste Rodin...

Fresh off a win in the G1 Sussex S. on Wednesday, Paddington (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}) has emerged from that effort "absolutely fine" and the G1 Juddmonte International S. later this month is under consideration by his connections, according to trainer Aidan O'Brien. The Coolmore partners-owned 'TDN Rising Star' was winning his fourth Group 1 race after taking the Irish 2000 Guineas, St James's Palace S., and the Eclipse S. in succession prior to his score during the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The York showpiece will see the son of Modern Eagle...

Shadwell's unbeaten Baaeed (GB) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) is reportedly in good order following his recent home work in advance of what is likely to be his final career jump in the G1 QIPCO Champion S. at Ascot on Oct. 15. The aforementioned 10-furlong contest has always been conditioner William Haggas's preferred option for a final start. The Hills brothers have been putting Baaeed through his paces on the Newmarket gallops alongside some Group 1 stablemates, and the colt appears to have come out of his work with flying colours....

Seven contenders will go forward for Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International S. at York after final declarations were confirmed Monday morning. Shadwell's all-conquering Baaeed (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), undefeated through nine starts to date, will seek to take his record to a perfect ten in the £1-million 10-furlong feature and will break from stall six. Guaranteed to start as the odds-on favourite for his first attempt at beyond the one-mile trip, his rivals are headed by Prince Faisal's globetrotting Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}), who has not tasted success in...

Classic winner Native Trail (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) is "thriving" ahead of a start in Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International S., according to trainer Charlie Appleby. The Godolphin-owned colt was most recently third in the G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown last month. "He's got the constitution of a rhinoceros--he just loves it," he told Sky Sports Racing. "He actually gets a bit depressed when he doesn't get on with his work, so for the last three weeks we've been winding him up and he's thriving on it. "As we all know he's...