Juddmonte International Stakes Runners Guide And Tips: We look at the seven runners lining up at York
St Mark's Basilica maybe a notable absentee from the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on the first day of the Ebor Festival on Wednesday, but with multiple Group 1-winning starlet Love deputising then Aidan O'Brien will still have a strong hand in the showpiece event, and we take a look at all seven runners here...
1 Juan Elcano (A Atzeni/K Ryan)
A likely outsider, Juan Elcano will have a significant task on his hooves if he is to play any sort of primary role in the 2021 Juddmonte. An impressive winner of the Listed Wolferton Stakes at Royal Ascot back in June, Kevin Ryan's raider then ran a fine race when finishing a neck second to Bangkok in the Group 2 York Stakes. That was a career best for the four-year-old, but now sent into Group 1 company the son of Frankel will need to improve immeasurably to land a blow on proven Group 1 winners. Last of eight in the Great Voltigeur Stakes at last year's Ebor Festival, Juan Elcano will hope for more luck this time around, but he looks on all form to be making the numbers up here.
2. Mishriff (D Egan/J & T Gosden)
Globetrotting four-year-old Mishriff has claimed a plethora of big prizes away from Britain, but is now looking to strike a huge pot on home soil and is one of the fancied challengers. A magnificent winner of the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly last season, John & Thady Gosden's raider failed to end last season in style when finishing down the field in the Champion Stakes at Ascot. Sent on his travels at the start of this year, Mishriff was a fine winner of the Saudi Cup at Riyadh before he went on to Dubai in March and bounded to glory in the Group 1 Sheema Classic. On his return to British shores he was no match for St Mark's Basilica in the Coral-Eclipse, as he finished third at Sandown, while last time out he was beaten by Derby hero Adayar in the King George. That run at Ascot was arguably a career best on home turf, as he comfortably beat the likes of Love and Broome, and a repeat of that effort should see him go very close here.
3. Love (R Moore/A O'Brien)
One of the finest fillies of modern times, Love's three-year-old campaign saw her dominate her age group during 2020 as she claimed dual Classic glory with victories in the 1000 Guineas and the Oaks at Epsom. Kicking on from those Group 1 wins she then excelled at the Ebor Festival 12 months ago by cruising to a five-length victory in the Yorkshire Oaks. This season started in perfect fashion, as she produced a gutsy effort to beat Audarya and Armory in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. However, it was her last run that ended a fine winning streak, as she could only finish third to Adayar and Mishriff in the King George at Ascot. Unable to quicken in the King George, Love will be eager to bounce back to winning ways, but having not been originally targeted at this race (St Mark's Basilica was expected to be Aidan O'Brien's main contender) then could Love face an uphill task?
4. Alenquer (T Marquand/W Haggas)
A lightly-raced juvenile, Alenquer burst on to the scene back in April as he downed subsequent Derby winner Adayar in the Classic Trial at Sandown Park. A massive 25/1 that day, the William Haggas-trained three-year-old showed it was no fluke as he went on to win impressively at Royal Ascot in the King Edward VII Stakes. Sent over to France and handed his first Group 1 task, Alenquer could only finish third to runaway winner Hurricane Lane and Wordsworth in the Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp in July, so will be hoping for better luck in his second Group 1 outing. Many had expected the son of Adlerflug to be seen in the Great Voltiguer Stakes on Wednesday, as the St Leger at Doncaster appears to be the end-of-season assignment, but the Haggas team have opted to send him for the big prize of the Juddmonte, but he will need to improve considerably to land a blow on some proven first rate performers.
5. Mac Swiney (K Manning/J Bolger)
A Group 2 winner as a juvenile, Mac Swiney has blossomed into a high class three-year-old this season and his crowning glory came when he edged past stablemate Poetic Flare in an epic renewal of the Irish 2000 Guineas. That success at the Curragh came in really soft ground, and the Jim Bolger-trained raider will benefit from any rain that may hit York in the lead-up to the race, as he has often been found out on quicker ground. Following on from that Classic success, Mac Swiney then ran creditably when finishing fourth in the Derby at Epsom, while he was an average sixth in the Irish Derby on his last outing. He could well enjoy the drop back to ten furlongs from a mile-and-a-half on Wednesday, but with the ground unlikely to be that testing on the Knavesmire then he could well find it tough to land a significant blow.
6. Mohaafeth (J Crowley/W Haggas)
William Haggas will be doubly represented in the Juddmonte, and the red-hot trainer's first string could be the exciting three-year-old Mohaafeth, who is on somewhat of a retrieval mission having disappointed at York on his last start. A blistering start to his 2021 campaign saw him rack up a fabulous four wins on the bounce, and having won a Newmarket handicap off a mark of 85, he then went on to win a Listed event at Flat HQ before a season's best came in the Group 3 Hampton Court Stakes at Royal Ascot. Sent to Yorkshire for the Group 2 York Stakes, Mohaafeth was sent off an odds-on favourite, but failed to land any sort of blow whatsoever and finished a disappointing third behind Bangkok and Juan Elcano in the event. Now returning to York, the son of Frankel will hope to bounce back to form, and he could be a significant fly in the ointment of the fancied contenders, if recapturing his early season form. The way the York Stakes was run didn't help Mohaafeth one bit, and Haggas was quick to write off the run saying that the slow gallop hindered him, while the colt found himself too far back. So, a more prominent ride here in a race that should be run at a decent gallop could bring the three-year-old into contention.
7. Alcohol Free (O Murphy/A Balding)
A proven Group 1-winning filly completes the seven-strong line-up and if Alcohol Free can bring her A game to the party then she will be a major player in what is a fascinating contest. Last season's Cheveley Park Stakes winner started her campaign off in the 1000 Guineas, but Andrew Balding's filly could only finish behind Mother Earth. Heading to Royal Ascot for her next start, the daughter of No Nay Never blitzed to a hugely impressive victory in the Group 1 Coronation Stakes, where she beat Snow Lantern and the aforementioned Mother Earth with aplomb. A creditable third behind that duo in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket was followed by a stunning return to form, as she bounded to an emphatic victory in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Locking horns with the boys last month, Alcohol Free showed a tremendous turn of foot to kick clear of the likes of Guineas hero Poetic Flare and old adversary Snow Lantern. Stepping up to 1m 2f could be a slight worry for fans of the filly, but she has shown that on her day she is real top notch performer, and if she is firing on all cylinders then she could make the frame.
Selection:
An exhilarating renewal of the 2021 Juddmonte International Stakes, but the selection has to be MOHAAFETH, who can maintain William Haggas' fine form of late, and he can make amends for a recent blot on his copybook at York. The four-times winner this season can down the likes of Mishriff and Love, who may have to fight it out for minor honours alongside Alcohol Free here.
