Byword for Juddmonte International
Under its various sponsors’ guises the Group One Juddmonte International has delivered its share of shock results.
It started as it meant to go on in 1972, as the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup, when the mighty Brigadier Gerard was beaten for the only time in his career by Roberto. What added to the sense of surprise was that the winning jockey, American Braulio Baeza, had never ridden at York – or any racecourse in Britain - before that race.
However, Baeza proved that good jockeys can ride anywhere and Maxime Guyon delivered a potent reminder of that when he rode Byword at Royal Ascot. Like Baeza, the Frenchman had never ridden the course before but he had done his homework with both video analysis and walking the track before giving a polished performance in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes.
The pair aim to repeat that performance - this will be Guyon’s first ride on the Knavesmire - on the first day of the Ebor meeting and have more than mere coincidence on their side.
Rip Van Winkle has been something of an uneasy market leader since Harbinger was ruled out of the race. He has yet to confirm that he has returned to his best form of last year and if the ground was to deteriorate because of further rain, it would have to be against the Aidan O’Brien colt.
Conversely Byword would seem to be suited by such conditions and the form of his last two runs stack up well. His half-length second to Goldikova, in the Prix d'Ispahan, marked him an improving four-year-old and then he beat Twice Over by the same margin in the Prince of Wales’s. Twice Over may not have got the run of the race but Byword looked the winner on merit and André Fabre, his trainer, has a 47% strike-rate with his older horses in British Group races.
d**k Turpin, who has been supplemented for the race, adds another dimension but his stamina – especially if the ground rides on soft side – has to be taken on trust but such conditions would play to the strengths of Cavalryman, the Godolphin horse formerly trained by Fabre, who could make the frame at good odds.
The Group Two sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes is one of the last recognised trials for the St Leger and the fact that Sir Michael Stoute is throwing Total Command into the race is worth noting. He is full-brother to Quiff, the winner of the Yorkshire Oaks and runner-up in the St Leger, and, although his stamina did not last two miles in the Queen’s Vase at Royal Ascot, this 12 furlongs should not be a problem.
Stable form might be more of a worry but a 20% strike-rate for Group races this season suggests that the quality end of the yard is still running well enough. Midas Touch is the main threat but a 3lb penalty might just be too much to concede.
This card could easily revolve around the forecast morning rain which could only help the chances of Dream Ahead in the Group Three sportingbet.com Acomb Stakes. He displayed a high knee action when he won a six-furlong Nottingham maiden by six lengths. Connections thought enough of him for a Gimcrack entry but his breeding suggests that the step up to seven furlongs is a smart move.
It was good to firm when Walvis Bay won at Ripon two weeks ago but he has good form with cut in the ground and he could be good enough to defy an 8lb hike in the weights in the Symphony Group Handicap.
Tags: