Poet's Word faces Roaring Lion in Juddmonte International

Poet’s Word, the dominant older male in England this summer, and Roaring Lion, one of the country’s top 3-year-olds, meet for the first time in Wednesday’s Group 1 Juddmonte International at York Racecourse.

The $1.27 million race has widespread ramifications for the remainder of the European season as well as the Breeders’ Cup Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3.

The winner of the Juddmonte International receives a fees-paid berth for the BC Turf at Churchill Downs on Nov. 3. Poet’s Word has already secured a berth with wins in two Group 1 races at Ascot in recent months that included BC Turf invitations – the Prince of Wales Stakes at 1 1/4 miles in June and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at 1 1/2 miles last month.

Poet’s Word, trained by Michael Stoute for Saeed Suhail, was the 7-4 favorite in future-book betting Monday morning for the Juddmonte International, which has drawn a field of eight and is run at 1 1/4 miles. Poet’s Word will be ridden by James Doyle, who has been aboard for the 5-year-old horse’s two recent Grade 1 wins.

Roaring Lion, trained by John Gosden, was listed at 9-4 for his second start against older horses. Roaring Lion won the Group 1 Eclipse Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Sandown on July 7 in his first start since finishing third behind Masar in the English Derby on June 2.

In May, Roaring Lion won the Group 2 Dante Stakes for 3-year-olds at about 1 1/4 miles at York.

Saxon Warrior, the winner of the English 2000 Guineas at a mile in May, is trainer Aidan O’Brien’s top hope for the Juddmonte International.

Saxon Warrior, who will be ridden by Ryan Moore, is winless in his last three starts – a fourth as the 4-5 favorite in the English Derby, a third as the even-money favorite in the Irish Derby and second, by a neck, to Roaring Lion in the Eclipse Stakes.

The field is so deep that Latrobe, winner of the Irish Derby, and Thunder Snow, who won the Dubai World Cup in his last start, are rated as outsiders.