1m2½f (1m2f56y) Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1) (Class 1) (3yo+)
We’ve got a fine record in this race, having tipped 85/1, 7/2 and 6/1 winners from the last five renewals. 2020’s race is another good one despite some notable absentees forcing a field of only five. Ghaiyyath bosses the market after two bloodless wins in Group One company this season, beating some of the best horses in training in Enable and Stradivarius. He has the killer combination of speed and stamina that can be so difficult to overcome over middle distances and is a worthy favourite. Magical is rock solid and perhaps best at this 10f trip but the formbook says she’s held and the bookies know all about her chance, pricing her up at a fair 7/2. I can’t see value there, nor with Lord North, who is the improver in this field and looked a very good horse at Royal Ascot. It’s all well and good swooping from the back when the petrol gauges on your opposition are flashing at Ascot, but Lord North won’t be able to do that against Ghaiyyath, who’s going to take a few of these out of their comfort zones mid-race and won’t be stopping. Speed is an essential asset so I like the profile of 2,000 Guineas winner KAMEKO, who has won two Group Ones over a mile and was extremely unlucky when boxed in at Goodwood. He’s not going to find Ghaiyyath too fast and will enjoy a strong gallop more than others, so if he stays as well as his half-brother Roaring Lion, winner of this in 2018, he has a huge chance. I’m a little surprised to see him drift to 5/1 to be honest, so he’s very much the bet.
1pt win Kameko @5/1, 15:15 York, Wednesday
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