Ebor 2013: Juddmonte Goes To War

There were some race-hardened battlers in the 2013 running of the Juddmonte International Stakes at York but it was Declaration Of War (7/1) who showed the strength to defeat his rivals.

Aidan O’Brien’s colt was having his seventh race of the season and had already contested some of the season’s hottest races – the likes of the Lockinge Stakes, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Qipco Sussex Stakes. Not two weeks ago he had hopped over to Deauville for the Prix Du Haras De Fresnay Jacques Le Marois (Group 1).

But he showed no signs of fatigue and stayed on well to beat Trading Leather (5/1) and Al Kazeem (11/8f).

Toronado’s (9/4) exertions in beating Dawn Approach at Goodwood in the Sussex Stakes at the end of July looked to have taken more out of him than was perhaps apparent. He was soon in trouble trying to keep pace with his rivals in the long home straight and eventually finished a distance last.

Sir Michael Stoute’s Telescope (5/4f) put the disappointment of Haydock behind him by winning the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes in very good style. He seemed to be very keen in the early stages but jockey Ryan Moore said afterwards it was more to do with his long stride than any particular keenness that means he has to try and hold him in check.

It was the first part of a double for Moore, who also won aboard Clive Brittain’s Bahamian Heights (12/1) in the closing nursery race (16.55).

Telescope’s victory also marked Highclere Thoroughbred Racing’s 400th winner, which is a fine achievement for the racing syndicate.

The opening sprint handicap on the card (13.55) gave a welcome win for Kevin Ryan’s Bogart (7/1). On his last run at York in July the saddle had slipped on him and gave jockey Amy Ryan an horrific high-speed fall. Ridden today by Neil Callan while Amy recovers, there was no such drama as he sprinted up the stands side to win from Goldream (9/1). It was good to see Amy in the winner’s enclosure to applaud him back.

The fillies take centre stage in Thursday with the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Group 1) over 1 mile 4f. John Gosden’s The Fugue is favourite but faces some younger rivals in the shape of Epsom Oaks runner-up Secret Gesture and Riposte, winner of the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Racing Preview: York’s Ebor Festival

York’s Ebor Festival begins on Wednesday and provides four days of good racing and entertainment.

Wednesday’s card includes the Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2) and Sir Michael Stoute’s much vaunted Telescope is favourite. The colt was beaten by a length in the Betfred Rose of Lancaster Stakes at Haydock Park last time when 4/9f.

In the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes Al Kazeem faces five rivals in his bid to go five races unbeaten this season.

Roger Charlton’s horse has already won three Group One races this season: the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Group 1), the Prince of Wales’s Stakes (Group 1), and the Coral-Eclipse (Group 1).

His rivals include Toronado, winner of the Qipco Sussex Stakes last time, and Irish Derby winner Trading Leather.

The rest of the week features the Darley Yorkshire Oaks, the Weatherbys Hamilton Insurance Lonsdale Cup, Coolmore Nunthorpe Stakes, the Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Gimcrack Stakes, and the Betfred Ebor Heritage Handicap.

Racing Preview: Coral-Eclipse Stakes

The Coral-Eclipse Stakes is run at Sandown Park over a distance of one mile, two furlongs (10 furlongs) and in 2013 has a first prize of £241, 018. It is a Group 1 contest and forms part of the Qipco British Champions Series.

The race was first run in 1886 and takes its name from a great racehorse of the 1760s. Eclipse was unbeaten in 18 races and went on to sire three of the first five Derby winners. The race pitches the Classic generation of three-year-olds against the older horses in a middle distance contest.

In the last 12 runnings of the Eclipse there have been three three-year-old winners: Sea The Stars (2009), Oratorio (2005), and Hawk Wing (2002). Oratorio and Hawk Wing were both trained by Aidan O’Brien and he enters the only three-year-old in the 2013 race in the form of Mars. The Galileo colt has finished sixth in the 2000 Guineas, sixth in the Epsom Derby, and third in the St James’s Palace Stakes.

It is common for runners in the Coral-Eclipse to have raced at Royal Ascot just a few weeks before, often in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes over the same distance. Indeed, Al Kazeem, Mukhadram, The Fugue, and Miblish all lined up in that race at Royal Ascot 2013 with the first three listed filling the places.

Aidan O’Brien’s other runner in the race, Declaration Of War, won the Queen Anne Stakes over a straight mile (8f) at Royal Ascot but has also won over 10 furlongs.

The final contender in the seven runner field is the German colt Pastorius. The four-year-old has been a globe-trotter in recent months, contesting the Group 1 Qipco Champion Stakes at Ascot last October, the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamps in April, and the Group 1 Singapore Airlines International Cup at Kranji in May.

Recent years have seen several short-priced favourites win the race, a sequence broken last year by Nathanial (7/2), who denied 11/4 favourite Farhh (subsequent winner of the 2013 JLT Lockinge Stakes) by half a length.

Royal Ascot 2013: Day 1

Declaration Of War (15/2) for Aidan O'Brien won the opening Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot as the favourite Animal Kingdom failed to get involved in the Group 1 contest.

Joseph O'Brien had trouble in running on the winner and had to wait for a gap to emerge in the runners in front of him but got to the lead with relative ease in the end.

Roger Varian's Aljamaaheer (8/1) and John Gosden's Gregorian (16/1) finished second and third.

Bookmakers had been keen to lay Animal Kingdom immediately before the race and his price drifted from even money out to 11/8. He ran keenly early on and then faded quickly as the pace quickened.

Speaking to Channel 4 Racing after the race trainer Graham Motion suggested Animal Kingdom would now be retired.

Winning trainer O'Brien explained his charge had progressed well after the JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury (when fifth) and he was delighted with the victory.

Sole Power (8/1) blasted his way to victory in the King's Stand Stakes over five furlongs, beating South African raider Shea Shea (11/4f) by a neck. It was a late, devastating burst of speed from Sole Power in the final furlong that saw him overhaul the favourite, who was well clear in his 'race' of the runners on the far side of the track.

The St James's Palace Stakes went to a photo between Dawn Approach (5/4f) and Toronado (5/1) after the two rivals had an epic battle down the home straight. Dawn Approach prevailed by just a nose from Richard Hannon's colt.

Just as in the Epsom Derby, Dawn Approach pulled hard again in the early stages but Kevin Manning managed to get him under control this time and he battled hard to see off Toronado. There was some serious bumping and interference in the last furlong which affected both horses and Richard Hughes might have felt his horse would have won without it.

Speaking afterwards Sheikh Mohammed said Dawn Approach's win confirmed for him that he is the best mile horse in the world. Trainer Jim Bolger said he knew his colt would not let him down on this occasion.

Aidan O'Brien was victorious again when War Command (20/1) won the Coventry Stakes by a comfortable six length margin from Parbold (16/1) and Sir John Hawkins (6/1). War Command looked to be the stable's third choice of its three runners, at least by betting, but belied his odds to win impressively.

Well Sharp (9/1) denied Lady Cecil's Tiger Cliff (4/1f) a win in the Ascot Stakes. The victory gave Jonjo O'Neill, a trainer more known for his jumps successes, his second Royal Ascot winner.

Johnny Murtagh completed 152/1 double when Extortionist (16/1) won the closing Windsor Castle Stakes, following up on his win earlier aboard Sole Power.

It was a good day for the Irish.

Racing Preview: JLT Lockinge Stakes

Just like several big races so far this season, the betting for the Group 1 JLT Lockinge Stakes at Newbury this afternoon centres around an Aidan O’Brien runner. On this occasion it is Declaration Of War.

Declaration Of War is as short as 13/8 in some places for the straight mile contest but is along way behind some of his rivals on official ratings. But it would be no surprise if Aidan O’Brien’s colt continued to show improvement and make a mockery of his current rating of 112.

The race is set up as a contest between the older horses who have the form in the book and the potential of the four-year-olds.

Godolphin’s Farhh (5-year-old) chased home Frankel on two occasions last season, never getting closer than six lengths. But Farhh has been beset by injuries in his career and most recently suffered an ankle injury over the winter. This will be his first run since that surgery.

The seven-year-old Cityscape is rated 124 and also finished runner up to a good horse in Excelebration twice last season.

Two interesting runners are Sir Henry Cecil’s Beauty Parlour and John Gosden’s Fencing. Beauty Parlour finished well down the field in the Sun Chariot Stakes late last season but had won the French Guineas for her pervious trainer earlier in the season. Again, backing her for the Lockinge is to take a view as to how much she has improved for Sir Henry’s work over the winter.