The Nunthorpe was a thrilling race and proved there are no certainities in racing – the favourite Battaash and “fastest horse on earth” was only fourth behind the “nearly” dead-heating pair of Alpha Delphini and Mabs Cross (far side)
Opening up with a bang The Ebor meeting defies the laws of theatre, writes Paul Haigh
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hey used to call York’s Ebor meeting “The Ascot of the North”. Just as well they’ve stopped that, because York has very little similarity to the Royal Meeting, except in the quality of its racing. York is much more relaxed, much less formal. Whisper it, but the real phrase is much less pretentious. If anyone turned up to the Knavesmire in a morning suit he might be advised to tell a joke or two or get on his bike, or else be reminded that this was where where they hanged poor Dick Turpin in 1739. One thing York does have in common with Ascot is its tendency to put some of its best goods in the shop window on Day 1. The Juddmonte International has been one of the world’s best races since it was invented in 1972 as the Benson & Hedges Gold Cup in what proved a vain attempt to bring Brigadier Gerard and Mill Reef up against each other one more time. It has been recognised at least once as the best race anywhere on earth on more than one occasion since
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www.internationalthoroughbred.net
The International has been recognised at least once as the best race anywhere on earth on more than one occasion since official rating of races began
official rating of races began. In complete defiance of the laws of theatre, which decree that the climax should come at the end of dramatic productions not at the beginning, it’s still run on the first day of what’s now known as The Ebor Festival, presumably to placate handicap lovers who still like to pretend the Ebor itself is the highlight of the week. This year, even in the absence of last year’s champion Cracksman, who is still being prepared in almost surreptitious fashion by John Gosden for what may yet turn out to be his one-year-too-late crack at the Arc, the International featured seven separate international Group 1 winners. If any race beats that this year then it will deserve the take the title. With the mysterious dip in overseas form that has beset Aidan O’Brien this season still continuing, Gosden won it nevertheless, this time with the Eclipse winner Roaring Lion, who skipped away from his rivals so decisively they might have been handicappers themselves. Some may think the presence in third of the only
