Juddmonte International Stakes
Group 1, York 15:35 £1,000,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
Wednesday 17th August 2017

1 Ulysses 4/1
2 Churchill 5/2F
3 Barney Roy 11/4
7 ran Distances: 2l, nk, 4½l
Time: 2m 12.11s (slow by 5.11s)

Ulysses backs up his Eclipse win to beat the 3-year-olds again

Ulysses
© Racehorse Photos

Having finished second in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last time out, the four-year-old Ulysses claimed a second Group One of the season when making a successful switch back to a mile and a quarter to add to his victory in last month's Coral-Eclipse.

After early leader Cliffs Of Moher faded away, it was dual 2000 Guineas winner Churchill and St James's Palace Stakes hero Barney Roy who traded blows.

But sitting patiently in behind was an almost motionless Jim Crowley aboard the son of Gailileo, waiting to pounce and make his move as late as possible.

Hitting the front around a furlong from home, the 4-1 scorer quickly asserted, crossing the line two lengths clear of Churchill, with his old rival Barney Roy back in third.

Crowley said: "He seems to like being ridden with confidence. He is improving and today is the best feel I have got off him to be honest and he seems to be getting better and better. 

"I always had plenty of horse. Today he relaxed so nicely and he just lobbed round. When I got there he got there quite soon, I just had to nurse him along to make sure he got there. 

"This horse is improving all the time and when the rain came this morning, I knew after Ascot it wouldn't be a problem. I think he is one of those that only does as much as he has to, not in a bad way, but like I said he is a great ride to pick up and I am grateful to be riding him. 

"These are the races when you are champion you want to be winning." 

Winning trainer Sir Michael Stoute, registering a record-breaking sixth success in the race, said: "It all just went so smoothly and there was never a blip. I think it was his best performance to date. 

"York is a different track to Sandown, it's so level, and I never had any worries the way he was travelling. 

"I think it's time to give him a break and work backwards from the Breeders' Cup Turf. The owners are keen to go for that. We'll go home and work it out." 

Comparing Ulysses to some of his previous winners of the race, Stoute said: "He is taking his races so well, he's got everything. I think he is as good at 12 furlongs, don't forget the King George was run in a swamp, it wasn't ideal conditions for him. 

"Today's performance would put him up there, if not in front of them."

Juddmonte International Stakes
(Group 1) (British Champions Series)
£1,000,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 56y, Class 1
7 ran
Going: Good to Soft (Soft in places)