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Declaration Of War Outguns Juddmonte Rivals
21/08/13

1 Declaration Of War 7/1
2 Trading Leather 5/1
3 Al Kazeem 11/8F
6 ran Distances: 1¼l, 1½l, 2¼l
TIME 2m 5.74s (fast by 1.76s)

Declaration Of War caused a minor surprise in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York, in which Sussex Stakes winner Toronado was a distinct disappointment.

Declaration Of War
© Caroline Norris

Since winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot, Declaration Of War had finished behind Al Kazeem in the Coral Eclipse and Toronado at Goodwood. Since then he has even been to France to contest the Prix Jacques le Marois.

While he has not run a bad race all season, it still took a leap of faith to see him turn the form around with Al Kazeem and Toronado, but Joseph O'Brien always appeared to look the most comfortable jockey and he saw off Irish Derby winner Trading Leather by a length and a quarter at odds of 7-1.

Al Kazeem, the 11-8 favourite, was third, but Toronado was in trouble a long way from home and was never a factor.

The winning jockey said: "I'm not sure if it was as much of a surprise to us as it was to a lot of people. In the Eclipse it was probably my fault. James (Doyle on Al Kazeem) got first run on me. I was only getting involved in the last 100 yards and it was all over.

"This lad is tough and hardy. He's been running consistently well and a mile and a quarter on hard ground suits him lovely. He travelled very well, relaxed great and toughed it out to the line.

"We always thought you could drop him back in trip to six or seven furlongs. He was left in the Nunthorpe until the very end. Obviously five (furlongs) would have been a bit sharp for him, but he is hardy and handles fast ground very well."

Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He has such an unbelievable constitution, this horse, we've never had one like him. He's had all these races but he never goes backwards. He's in full work all the time at home.

"I know I said after Ascot that he'd go back in trip rather than forward, but I suppose there aren't the races for him. He's not lost a kilo all year and he has such a physique - he has to be busy as he does himself so well.

"There's a lot (of horses) going there but he could go to Leopardstown (Irish Champion Stakes) now.

"He could go to the Breeders' Cup later on (for the Classic). Giant's Causeway handled the dirt, the key is to jump and travel. The lads (Coolmore) will decide, I'm sure. To go there you need a horse that travels strong and gets a mile and a quarter."

Toronado blotted his copybook with a lacklustre display.

Richard Hannon's ace miler, conqueror of Dawn Approach in the Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, was beaten a long way before stamina came into play on his first try at a mile and a quarter, and he trailed home last.

Assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: "He just didn't run his race. It wouldn't have made a difference if it was over six furlongs, seven or a mile. It's very disappointing. We'll go through him at home and at least there are two months until the big mile races, it's just a shame we didn't see what he could do at this trip."

Trading Leather
© Caroline Norris

Bolger said of International runner-up Trading Leather: "It was an excellent run and he'll now go to Leopardstown for the Irish Champion Stakes. He'll appreciate the uphill finish."

Trainer Roger Charlton felt the ground contributed to Al Kazeem's effort to finish only third.

He said of the 11-8 favourite: "James (Doyle) never felt happy at any stage. He wanted to press Trading Leather more, and he couldn't do it. He's had three runs on firm ground and he was looking after himself, I think.

"You hope you can get away with it, but if you keep running a horse on firm ground when he prefers it softer, that's what happens. Whether he goes for the Irish Champion Stakes or whatever, we'll just see how he comes back."

Juddmonte International Stakes (Group 1)
£750,000 added, 3yo plus, 1m 2f 88y, Class 1
6 ran
Going: Good to Firm