Item gets up over Almaqam to take Juddmonte International
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Item ran down Almaqam to win the Juddmonte International by a head on Wednesday at York Racecourse in England, with the two favorites, Constitution River and Ombudsman, well back in third and fourth.
Item, bred and owned by Juddmonte, the International’s longtime sponsor, now has won five of six starts, his lone misstep a ninth in the Derby. Perhaps Item struggled with a very soft course at Epsom Downs, but unexpected give in the ground Wednesday did nothing to hamper him.
Not so with Ombudsman, odds-on favorite to win his second straight International while racing over good-to-soft ground co-trainer John Gosden called unsuitable for his charge. Stuck last of eight for nearly the first mile of the International, run at an extended 1 1/4 miles, Ombudsman advanced up the rail and marginally reached contention a furlong and a half from the finish, but went flat from there, beaten more than four lengths by the winner and one length behind.
The International is part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, offering automatic fees-paid entry into the Breeders’ Cup Turf. No mention of that race for Item, whose schedule the remainder of the year does not seem set, but Gosden said Ombudsman could be trained up to the BC Turf. In a California Breeders’ Cup year, the horse would be assured of fast going, but not so this fall at Keeneland.
The International didn’t unfold as expected. Action, the pacemaker for Constitution River – winner of the French Derby and the Eclipse in his last two starts – broke poorly and showed no speed, racing alongside Ombudsman at the back, while Ombudsman’s pacemaker, Devil’s Advocate, ran along in third behind the other two Aidan O’Brien-trained runners, pacesetting Hawk Mountain and Constitution River. As Constitution River pulled too hard during the early stages and compromised his finish, Almaqam fell into a perfect stalking trip and nearly made the most of it.
A horse who needs give in the ground, Almaqam looked like he was travelling best a quarter mile out and was, forcefully overhauling the leading O’Briens and surging clear with a furlong to run. By then, Colin Keane had extricated Item from a tight spot along the rail, then behind and between rivals, and Item delivered a strong late punch to take first prize.
Trainer Andrew Balding continued his career year, adding the International to Group 1 victories in the King George, the Falmouth, and the Prix Rothschild – all with Juddmonte horses. Balding revealed that Item nearly missed the race, and had come up with a minor foot issue when final declarations were made Monday. The foot came right just in time, Item jogged sound on Wednesday morning, and then went out and won his first top-level race in the afternoon. By Frankel out of Capla Temptress, by Lope de Vega, Item now is 3 for 3 at York having won the Group 2 Dante this past spring and the York Stakes a month ago.
In earlier action Wednesday, Haffner won the Acomb Stakes for 2-year-olds, also part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series, but while O’Brien mentioned the 2000 Guineas and the French Derby as long-range goals, the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf didn’t come up in published post-race comments. Haffner raced in the silks of American owner Peter Brant, a member of the partnership that campaigns the Justify colt.
And Maltese Cross made a strongly favorable impression landing the Group 2 Great Voltigeur Stakes, restricted to 3-year-olds and contested over 1 1/2 miles. Second in the Derby and winner last out of the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, Maltese Cross traveled powerfully under Tom Marquand and move to the lead a quarter-mile out without being asked. He drew off to a two-length win over Pierre Bonnard, with Derby hero Christmas Day a non-threatening third. Trained by William Haggas, Maltese Cross could stretch out to 1 3/4 miles in the St. Leger Stakes or stick to 1 1/2 miles and aim for the Arc.
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