Since Brigadier Gerard’s unbeaten record was dramatically taken down by Roberto in its inaugural running in 1972, the ‘Juddmonte’ as it is colloquially known, is entrenched in its high echelon as one of the highest class races run anywhere in the world.
Writing on the Hollywoodbets Sports Blog, Neil Morrice suggests that recent winners Sea The Stars and Frankel bear testament to that, and this year’s renewal, while lacking a so-called superstar, is a humdinger of a contest worth going a long way to see.
Frankel – wins the Juddmonte in 2012
Rightly heading the market at 5-4 with Hollywoodbets is CRYSTAL OCEAN, a five-year-old representing the older brigade who like so many from the Sir Michael Stoute academy has improved markedly with age.
After three straight wins, his sequence was finally halted in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes, but only by the exceptional ENABLE, and that after a titanic battle through the final two furlongs of the Ascot straight in which no quarter was taken or given
At the line, it was the mare Enable who edged ahead, but Crystal Ocean came out of it with flags unfurled and his head held high. His form sets the benchmark for is foes to aim at in this £600,000 to the winner highlight. He is the undisputed one to beat.
The Coolmore operation is as usual strongly represented through the twin spearhead of CIRCUS MAXIMUS and JAPAN.
Circus Maximus didn’t stay the Investec Derby trip but has bounced back with a Group 1 triumph and a cracking effort to run Too Darn Hot to half a length in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood. His profile is that of a genuine player who in blinkers can get into the money.
ANTHONY VAN DYCK (Galileo x Believe N Succeed) wins the G1 Epsom Derby. Ridden by Seamie Heffernan. Photo – Bronwen Healy. The Image is Everything. Bronwen Healy Photography.
Japan hasn’t looked back since finishing fourth in the Dante Stakes over this course and distance in May. He went down in a blanket finish when third to stablemate Anthony Van Dyck in the Derby before romping home with a telling burst of finishing speed in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot, then bagging the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris at Longchamp, over a mile and a half. He looks the O’Brien number one but has to improve his effectiveness over this extended two and a quarter miles.
John Gosden (photo: Investec)
The lightly-raced KING OF COMEDY has ‘Group 1 King’ Frankie Dettori on his back having been rested since a neck defeat by Circus Maximus at Royal Ascot in which many regarded him as unlucky. Granted the form of John Gosden’s Group 1 runners recently, plus the fact that as a 3yo he enjoys a healthy allowance, he has to be afforded the utmost respect.
ELARQAM is a colt with abundant winning experience on the Knavesmire which in itself gives him a big card to play. The Mark Johnston-trained runner powered home in a Group 2 over this course and distance last month, beating Addeybb by three and a quarter lengths, and the second has subsequently franked the form.
Adding a touch of flavour to the contest is overseas Challenger CHEVALIER GRAND from Japan. However, the oldest member of the field was beaten over 12 lengths by Crystal Ocean at Ascot, and on that evidence has a mountain to climb.
