Juddmonte International pivotal race for Mishriff, Love
Mishriff and Love are the heavyweights in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes on Wednesday at York Racecourse in England, but there is more to this important 1 1/4-mile fixture than just those two horses.
Mishriff was second and Love third in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, a 1 1/2-mile race on July 24 at Ascot. Mishriff lost but ran well in defeat, giving futile chase to victorious Adayar, but Love was slightly disappointing. The early favorite for the 2020 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe before a wet European autumn cut short her campaign, Love had raced only once this year at age 4, winning well enough in the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Love got her preferred firmer footing in the King George, but for the first time since she was 2, she failed to answer the call. Wednesday’s race is something of a crossroads for Love, who was so brilliant during her summer campaign as a 3-year-old.
Mishriff also occupies an uncertain space right now. His biggest win this season came on dirt, in the one-turn, 1 1/8-mile Saudi Cup in February, which he followed up with a win over 1 1/2 miles on grass in the Group 1 Sheema Classic at Meydan Racecourse. Both those starts came over flat, turning tracks, and though Mishriff won the Group 1 Prix du Jockey Club during the summer of 2020, it’s fair to wonder if he can produce his very best form over European-style racecourses.
Three-year-old filly Alcohol Free enters in sharp form and gets 10 pounds from her older male rivals, like Mishriff, and seven pounds from Love. Alcohol Free won the Group 1 Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, finished a solid third in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket, and most recently beat males – including older rivals – in the Group 1 Sussex Stakes over one mile at Goodwood. That race’s runner up, Poetic Flare, returned with a strong second this past Sunday, beaten only by top miler Palace Pier in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois. Alcohol Free has been racing over one mile but her trainer, Andrew Balding, has expressed confidence she can get 1 1/4 miles.
Also entered is Mohaafeth, who was a sharply rising 3-year-old before meeting a surprising defeat as a strong favorite in the July 24 York Stakes. That race was run at a crawl and Mohaafeth was fairly far back early, and he could come back with a stronger showing.
Mac Swiney, a capable 3-year-old trained by Jim Bolger who defeated Poetic Flare while winning the Irish 2000 Guineas, and Juan Alcano complete the field.