The plan this week was to get away, do a bit of fishing, recharge the batteries and watch no racing. However, a thirteen runner Group 1 is such a rarity these days it would be rude not to have a go at something in tomorrow’s Juddmonte International Stakes at York. Holiday over in less than 24 hours!
The 16.1hh City Of Troy has been uneasy at the head of the market this week. Not many would have predicted the Second Coming would be odds against for this but he could be backed at as big as 6/4 with one firm this evening.
Will we see the City Of Troy that flopped in the Guineas,
will we see the City Of Troy that won so well in the Derby or will we see the
workmanlike City Of Troy that won the Coral Eclipse? It is this uncertainty
that probably convinced so many trainers and owners have a go in this year’s
Juddmonte and there are plenty of e/w alternatives if you fancy taking on the
jolly.
Course Specialist
As regular readers will be well aware of, I am a sucker for
a horse with lots of course form in the book. The horse I fancy here has never
won at York, but his trainer is a proper course specialist and I think Maljoom
can outrun his odds of 25/1 now upped to 10f for the first time by William Haggas.
By Caravaggio, if you just looked at Maljoom’s pedigree you
would not think this trip would suit. He’s related to a 7f winner, his dam is related
to 5f and 6f winners but sometimes, pedigrees can go out the window. On his
last two starts at the top table over 8f this season, Maljoom has shaped like
he wants further.
Slow Starter
In the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, he was slow away, he got
outpaced at the 3f pole before staying on for third behind Charyn. Then, in the
Sussex Stakes at Goodwood in first time blinkers, he was again a step slow
away. However, this time he travelled into the race much better and didn’t come
off the bridle until the 2f pole. He finished off really strongly for second,
finishing just 1.5L behind crack miler Notable Speech (G1 winners Facteur
Cheval and Henry Longfellow behind).
The blinkers are unsurprisingly retained today and over this
extra 2f, he may be able to travel better for even longer. As I mentioned
earlier, William Haggas usually does well at York and he won this a couple of
years ago with the mighty Baaeed. Is Maljoom as good as him? Probably not, but
this looks a pretty open renewal of the Juddmonte and at odds of 25/1, hopefully
he stays the trip and hits the frame for e/w players.
2024 Juddmonte International Tip: Maljoom e/w @ 25/1
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