Juddmonte International: quotes from connections

will face 12 rivals as he bids for more Group One glory in the Juddmonte International at on Wednesday.

The Derby and Eclipse winner is set for a tough examination in a high-class field on the Knavesmire.

Stablemate will also represent Ballydoyle maestro Aidan O’Brien, but plenty of other trainers are prepared to take the hot favourite on.

Derby runner-up will drop down to 10 furlongs, while Clive Cox’s will also renew his rivalry with City Of Troy after only being beaten two lengths by O’Brien’s charge at Sandown.

On potentially reversing the form at York, big-race rider told British Champions Series: “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. 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. 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 real 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.”

Francis-Henri Graffard’s impressive King Edward VII Stakes winner Calandagan leads the French challenge, with Jerome Reynier’s also making the trip across the English Channel.

Graffard told British Champions Series on his Royal Ascot winner: “He’s in very good form. We gave him time after his win at Ascot and he’s back to his best form and ready to take his chance. He’s ready for the next level and we’ll see where we stand.

“The opposition is very strong, but I think York will suit him as it’s a big, galloping track with a long straight compared to somewhere like Deauville."

Japanese St Leger winner will make his UK debut and Bluestocking is the only filly in the race for the sponsors.

Ralph Beckett’s charge has really come of age as a four-year-old, winning the Middleton Stakes at this venue by six lengths before opening her account at Group One level in the Pretty Polly and then chasing home in the King George.

Beckett said: “It wasn’t really a difficult decision. The owners (Juddmonte) were keen and I didn’t have a problem with it. There’s a drop of rain forecast in the next 48 hours and it all made sense.

“She was good over a mile and a quarter at the Curragh, so there are no concerns there, and she has good course and distance form before that.

“She’s got a little bit to find but not a lot, and she was only 20-1 over the weekend because of the doubt about her running. We are looking forward to it.”

Owen Burrows’ is a York specialist, having already won the Strensall Stakes and the York Stakes twice at the course, and he's set to be joined in the Shadwell blue and white by Israr, trained by John and Thady Gosden.

Richard Hills, racing advisor at Shadwell Racing, told York racecourse: “Alflaila loves York as he’s proven before. He has definitely taken a step forward since the last race and Owen is really, really happy with him, so we couldn’t be more pleased.

“He sort of takes time to get into his stride, so of course York with the lovely long straight plays to his strengths. It’s a great course, but particularly for him.”

is back up in class after a convincing three and a quarter length victory in the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot.

Hills said: “He’s in there on his own merits. Sheikha Hissa took the view that he deserves his chance. He loves fast ground; York will suit him really well and I think he’ll run a big race. He’s in good nick.” 

Docklands has not run since Royal Ascot, but he was an excellent second to subsequent Group One scorer Charyn on that occasion and connections are keen to have a go despite the 50/1 quotes about their stable star.

Trainer Harry Eustace told Grosvenor Sport: "The Strensall had been the plan, but we’ve been looking forward to stepping him up to a mile-and-a-quarter for a while now, and we’re very excited to run him here.

“We think we know where we are in terms of the older horses in the race, so it’s just a case of matching him up against the three-year-olds. City Of Troy’s run in the Eclipse gave us a bit of a clue and we’re very happy to take him on, as well as the others from the Classic generation.”

and complete the line-up while White Birch, who impressively beat when last seen in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh, did not take up his engagement with the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown now the likely target.