Toronado takes on Al Kazeem in Juddmonte International

Frankel was the star of the first afternoon of last year's Ebor Festival,

winning the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes by seven lengths -- and while

there may not be a horse of that caliber in the line-up, it still looks a

mouthwatering race.

Al Kazeem's clash with top three-year-old Toronado in Wednesday's £750,000

Juddmonte International Stakes is the undoubted highlight of the week.

The Roger Charlton-trained Al Kazeem remains unbeaten this season, winning

all of his four starts including three victories at Group 1 level.

"He looks great and his work has been great," Charlton said. "This is a

different challenge for him -- he is taking on the best miler in Europe (Toronado)

-- on a new track at York.

"He is also bidding to become the first horse to win the Prince of Wales's

Stakes, Eclipse and Juddmonte International in the same season. It's not going

to be easy but he owes us nothing."

Sussex Stakes hero Toronado will be trying an extended 1 1/4 miles for the

first time.

"It's all systems go for Toronado," trainer Richard Hannon said. "The plan is

to run as long as there is not heavy rain."

Royal Ascot winner Declaration of War, Trading Leather and Hillstar, second

and third respectively in last month's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes

at Ascot, also face the starter.

Watch out for Telescope in the Great Voltigeur. The one-time Derby favorite,

who missed the Epsom classic after a setback in the spring, met with defeat last

time out at Haydock in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes behind Mike de Kock's

four-year-old David Livingston.

"I feel there has been too much yapping," trainer Sir Michael Stoute said of

Telescope's loss. "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."

Group 1 winner The Fugue is set to continue in the highest caliber of company

in Thursday's Yorkshire Oaks, in which she was narrowly denied a year ago.

The daughter of Dansili, who carries the colors of Lord and Lady Lloyd

Webber, was last seen finishing at the rear of the field in the Eclipse Stakes.

Prior to that she had run a tremendous race to be third in the Prince of Wales's

Stakes at Royal Ascot.

"All being well, The Fugue will run in the Yorkshire Oaks," Gosden said. "She

ran great at Ascot but scoped badly after the Eclipse. Hopefully, she is on the

way back."

She could meet the Lady Cecil-trained Riposte, whose stablemate Wild Coco is

another possible runner in York's £325,000 Group 1 prize for fillies and mares,

aged three and upwards.

Lord Grimthorpe, racing manager to Prince Khalid Abdullah, owner of Riposte,

confirmed: "Everything she has done (in the build-up) suggests she is in good

form."

On Friday, South African speedster Shea Shea will bid to atone for Mike de

Kock's recent bad luck in the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes.

De Kock's The Apache was disqualified from first to second place in the

Arlington Million on Saturday, so a win in one of the top European sprints

should prove decent consolation.

Shea Shea is to be partnered by Frankie Dettori and will face arch rival Sole

Power, whom he leads 3-1 in their private battle this season.

"If you look at the King's Stand and at Newmarket they are running on top of

each other all the time," de Kock said. "In Dubai we were effectively on home

ground as he had to travel to us so I think we had the advantage.

"There's not too much between them I think it will be down to luck

in-running.

"He's pretty well at the moment. I think it's the right course for him --

flat and fast. He wants it fairly firm and fairly flat."

The highlight on Saturday's closing day of the Ebor Festival is the £250,000

Ebor, the the richest handicap in Europe.

Ante-post favorite Opinion is among 53 confirmations. The Stoute-trained

five-year-old, carrying the Highclere colors, was successful in the Duke of

Edinburgh Handicap at Royal Ascot but could not get a clear run when fifth in

the Old Newton Cup at Haydock last time.

The majority of the leading fancies in the betting market have stood their

ground, including Sheikhzayedroad, Pallasator, Sun Central, Tiger Cliff, Well

Sharp, Caravan Rolls On and Ted Veale.

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