Al Kazeem, Toronado top generational clash at York

There is little more that Al Kazeem could have done against his peers to

further enhance his reputation this year and so he heads to York for Wednesday's

Group 1 Juddmonte International to be measured against a high-class

three-year-old in a true clash of the generations. Brushing aside Camelot in the

Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh before dealing with Mukhadram in the Prince

of Wales's at Royal Ascot, he overwhelmed Declaration of War in the Eclipse

Stakes July 6. Weight-for-age always brings uncertainty to bear and he has a

hefty eight pounds to hand to Toronado in a fascinating encounter.

"He's the best horse I've ever trained," Roger Charlton said. "He's very

tough, sound and versatile and very straightforward to train. He's a very sound

horse. I don't know if horses keep improving aged five, but he seems to me to be

every bit as good as he was earlier in the year and that we will find out at

York."

For Toronado, the big question is the step up from a mile, but he has given

no indication that he will not stay and of more concern is that he is

reappearing just three weeks after his battle with Dawn Approach in the Sussex

Stakes at Glorious Goodwood. Only three horses have done the

Sussex-International double in the same year and two of those were Frankel and

Giant's Causeway, so it is a tough ask for a still relatively inexperienced

sophomore.

Sir Michael Stoute has won this race five times and it is significant that he

sends Hillstar into battle. His Pattern form has come at 12 furlongs so far,

with Sir Evelyn de Rothschild's homebred winning the King Edward VII Stakes at

Royal Ascot before finishing third in the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth

Stakes back at that track July 27. Jockey Ryan Moore is not concerned about

shortening up.

"I don't think it will be a problem, as it's a nice big galloping track that

will suit him fine," Moore commented. "It might be a little bit tactical, with

just six runners but he seems very well at home, hopefully can still be

improving and is going the right way."

Aidan O'Brien is on three winners in this race's history and brings the busy

Declaration of War back to the breach after a staying-on fourth in last Sunday's

Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville. He had previously reverted to a mile for

the Sussex after reportedly not seeing out the 1 1/4-mile trip of the Eclipse

but is given another chance to prove his stamina here.

"He is in good form and obviously has not done much since Deauville, but what

he has done we've been happy with," his trainer said. "He loves fast ground and

is a very hardy horse -- he seems to be going the right way for his racing."

Jim Bolger's Irish Derby hero Trading Leather was three-quarters of a length

ahead of Hillstar when second to Novellist in the King George and may be the

answer the pace puzzle, as he has been prominently ridden before.

"If he doesn't stay, he'll return to a mile," Richard Hannon Jr. told the

Racing Post. "We've the utmost respect for Al Kazeem, because his record at

the top level this season arguably makes him the horse of the year so far. Not

only have we the new trip to overcome, we've Al Kazeem as well. It will be

tactical, but we'll leave that up to the jockey."

Two weeks ago, Telescope was being talked about as one of the season's

potential class acts but following a surprise defeat in the Rose of Lancaster

Stakes at Haydock he now has questions to answer upped to 1 1/2 miles for

Wednesday's Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes.

Telescope's length second to David Livingston in that extended 10-furlong

contest 11 days ago was a respectable effort given his inexperience, but the

sense of anti-climax was tangible and it is interesting that such a

lightly-campaigned colt has been brought back to the racecourse so quickly by a

trainer unaccustomed to making mistakes. Indeed, Sir Michael Stoute holds the

record of six wins in this traditional significant St Leger pointer.

"I wanted to try him over a mile and a half and this is the opportunity,"

Stoute told The Telegraph. "He seems fine after Haydock. It was only the

colt's fourth start. I feel there has been too much yapping. He's being

criticized and that is not being fair on the horse. He's inexperienced. Let's

allow his performances to do the talking."

Godolphin's Irish Derby fourth Cap O'Rushes comes here on the back of a win

in the Gordon Stakes at Glorious Goodwood July 31, where the fellow royal blue

bearer Secret Number was an unlucky fifth.

 "Cap O'Rushes came out of Goodwood very well and heads to York in good

order," Charlie Appleby commented. "He was in the right place in the Gordon

Stakes, but I think that a stronger pace would have helped us more. The only

cause for concern would be the quick going, as we feel that he is a better horse

with some give in the ground."

Saeed bin Suroor said of Secret Number, "He was a little unlucky at Goodwood,

but still ran very well. He gets a mile and a half well and has been working

nicely."

Aidan O'Brien has opted for the unexposed Foundry out of eight original

entries, which may be significant as he re-appears for the first time since

winning on debut in a Leopardstown maiden by 5 1/2 lengths over seven furlongs

in November.

"We've been happy with him and he's ready to start and we'll take it from

there," the Ballydoyle conditioner said.

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