Talking Horses: York stages the 'Race of the Summer' as Classic champions go head-to-head

In the red corner, at least in terms of his jockey, Frankie Dettori’s, hat, is Golden Horn. Emphatic winner of the Derby, not to mention the Coral-Eclipse and Dante Stakes over course and distance on the Knavesmire in May, John Gosden’s colt has already established himself as the champion middle-distance horse in the country this summer. Dominant over a mile-and-a-half, today’s trip of a mile-and-two-furlongs should suit him even better.

Lined up against him in the blue corner, with the orange stripes of Coolmore also prominent, is Gleneagles. The best three-year-old miler in British and Irish racing having won the 2,000 Guineas on both sides of the Irish Sea, Aidan O’Brien’s star turn steps up in trip after planned assignments in the Sussex Stakes and Prix Jacques le Marois were shelved because of unsuitable ground. In an ideal world, O’Brien wouldn’t be running him today. The fact he is has created the kind of head-to-head duel so beloved of racing folklore.

That said, though, it would be wrong to dismiss the supporting cast. Roger Charlton’s Time Test was a runaway winner of the Tercentenary Stakes at Royal Ascot and, while untried at Group One level, is far too good to simply be making up the numbers. The Grey Gatsby, runner-up to Australia in last year’s Juddmonte and a former winner of the Dante, Prix du Jockey Club and Irish Champion Stakes, will be carrying hopes of a Yorkshire victory.

With all of that in the melting pot, the stage is set for a sporting spectacular. Little wonder the International Federation of Horseracing Authorities recently voted the Juddmonte, which is worth an eye-watering £850,000, as the best race in the world.

“It has all the makings of the race of the season in Britain, Europe and, possibly, the world,” said William Derby, York Racecourse’s chief executive and clerk of the course. “Golden Horn is the highest-rated racehorse in the world, and Gleneagles has won both Guineas and is the best three-year-old miler.

“To have those two taking each other on, and then adding in The Grey Gatsby – last year’s Dante and French Derby winner and the local hero – it could be a fantastic race.

“It’s an absolutely mouth-watering contest and it is what we, as a racecourse, want to do – to bring the best horses in the world to race on the Knavesmire.”

The bookmakers currently make Golden Horn a 4-6 favourite, and on the evidence of everything he has achieved this season, that feels about right.

The Derby winner was supplemented for Epsom after a hugely impressive display in the Dante, and with Gosden fielding a pacemaker in the shape of Dick Doughtywylie, there are unlikely to be any surprises in the way in which Golden Horn runs his race this afternoon.

He will be pulled into the home straight by his stable mate, and is almost certain to be the first of the main protagonists to strike for home, with Dettori confident in his horse’s ability to stay every yard of the ten-furlong trip.

“Stamina will get asked at York as they get racing a long way out,” said former jockey and Channel Four pundit Mick Kinane, who boasts three Juddmonte victories on his riding CV. “It is a question of if Gleneagles will stay, so I would go for the favourite as he is proven over the track and distance.

“His stamina is assured and he is a straight-forward horse. Like Sea The Stars, he is a very good horse and they have taken a similar route with him. He looks a very straight-forward, genuine horse that is sound in both mind and body.”

Gleneagles boasts the most effective turn of pace in the field, but the Irish raider is untried beyond a mile and while his breeding suggests the trip should just about be within his compass, Dettori will attempt to draw him out of his comfort zone at an early stage of proceedings.

Joseph O’Brien, standing in for the injured Ryan Moore, will have to pace his race perfectly, and while yesterday’s rain should not place Gleneagles’ presence in the starting line-up in doubt, it will have done little to enhance his chances.

“Hopefully, the ground will stay the way it is for Gleneagles,” said Aidan O’Brien, prior to yesterday’s rainfall. “He’s in good form, and we’re happy with him.”

Gleneagles is a 7-2 shot, while Time Test is regarded as the best of the rest at 11-2, and while Roger Charlton’s Ascot winner will be going into unknown territory in terms of the class of the horses he is up against, his trainer maintains he more than merits his place in the line-up.

“I believe he has the potential to be a very smart colt,” said Charlton. “His Tercentenary Stakes win was not only visually very impressive, it was backed up by a very good time.

“He needs to step up from Group Three company, and we are under no illusions that the Juddmonte International probably represents the best race of the season, but I am going into it in an optimistic frame of mind.”