DAY One of the four-day Ebor Festival at the wonderful York Racecourse features the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at 3.35, which has 13 declarations and looks the race of the season.
The Derby and Eclipse winner City of Troy Unibet 11/10 heads the market at a very different price than quoted before the weekend when he was heavily odds on. City Of Troy headed the market for the 2000 Guineas on the back of a brilliant Dewhurst win on ground that was far too soft and yet in the parade ring ahead of this classic at Newmarket when odds on he simply didn’t stand out versus the rest of the field, which proved the case in running too when ninth to Notable Speech, who was a brilliant winner.
The main challenges to City Of Troy appear to be Ambiente Friendly, who is dropping back in trip and whether he will so effective over the Juddmonte distance is open to question, whilst one of the French challengers Calandagan won the King Edward VII Stakes over 1m 4f by six lengths and still has to be respected dropping back down in trip, having won over a similar distance at Longchamp.
Bluestocking rather than going for the easy option with the Yorkshire Oaks has thankfully been declared for the Juddmonte, with Zarakem and Maljoom looking lively each way selections.
Enjoy whether at York or #Athome watching on ITV Racing and Racing TV.
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.50 York – Symphony Group Handicap Heritage Handicap (5½f)
Kylian was a classy juvenile and was only three lengths off Big Evs on his first start of this year in the Westow Stakes at the Knavesmire, but he went backwards on his next two starts and looked disillusioned with things. However, after being gelded at the start of June, he looked a lot more like his old self at Ascot, bouncing straight back to form with an excellent second to the improving Holkham Bay (10lb pull here). Third home Dream Composer won next time out, and the form has a very solid look to it. He has solely run over five furlongs and this extra half furlong will be in his favour. Kylian is nicely drawn in stall 5 (low numbers have held sway on the straight course this year) and can go well.
Unibet are paying MONEY BACK as CASH if your pick finishes 2nd or 3rd in this race!
Pocklington won two starts earlier in the year and then finished fifth at Newbury to the smart Elite Status in a Listed race when being prominent throughout and only losing fourth late on. He was then inevitably outclassed in the Commonwealth Cup and is having his first run after a wind operation. Pocklington interestingly drops back from six furlongs for the first time in his career and though this unexposed type may seemingly have an unfavourable draw from stall 21 he looks sure to be suited by this distance and can reward each way players in handicap company.
3.00 York – Great Voltigeur Stakes Group 2 (1m 4f)
King’s Gambit really ought to have beaten Jayarebe in the Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot, when given too much to do as the winner got first run, though that form looks all the better after the winner was the only one to get anywhere near Economics at Deauville at the weekend. In the York Stakes they went no pace at all over one mile two furlongs with King’s Gambit heading the field and then possibly going for home too soon to give Alflaila a target to aim at throughout the final furlong.
This is King’s Gambit first start over this distance, but he should stay, and on form, has every chance of turning Los Angeles over here in what looks a positive move.
3.35 York – Juddmonte International Stakes Group 1 (1m 2f)
Bluestocking secured her first Group 1 victory in the Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh two starts ago when coming from off the pace to beat Emily Upjohn over one mile two furlongs. She was napped in my Unibet blog, when stepping up in trip in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and chased home the impressive Goliath to finish a clear second on ground that was probably too quick for her. It is interesting that she heads for a much more difficult assignment here than the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday where she is the clear favourite. The ground will not be as quick as Ascot too and expect a big run.
Unibet are SUPER BOOSTING the price of EVERY runner in this race!
Zarakem continues on the up and really impressed when second beaten a ¼ of a length behind Auguste Rodin in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot when running on well late on. This four-year-old has won over a range of distances from one mile two furlongs up to one mile five furlongs, yet his 2024 campaign has been about running at around the Juddmonte trip and he looks to go well on the Knavesmire.
4.10 York – Stayers Handicap Heritage Handicap (2m½f)
Divine Comedy (nap) was marked up in my Unibet blog whenrunning a blinder to finish runner-up behind Pledgeofallegiance in the Ascot Stakes at Royal Ascot. She had won easily at Haydock over two miles on her previous start, when looking the winner a long way out to finish 5½ lengths clear of the second Solent Gateway. This very likeable mare, who has finished in the first three on her last 13 starts, is thriving in these staying handicaps and this race has looked the plan since Royal Ascot.
Unibet are paying an EXTRA PLACE in this race!
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