Juddmonte International Stakes Tips, Offers and Free Bets
Juddmonte International Stakes Preview: Tips, Betting Offers and Odds
The first day of York’s Ebor meeting gets off to a flying start with a number of thrilling contests on offer. The pick of the bunch when it comes to the class of the participants is the Juddmonte International Stakes. Here we take a look at the best odds and offers and provide our betting tips for the race.
A Group 1 contest run over a trip of 1m2f and open to runners aged three and older, this event was first run at York in 1972 and now offers a whopping £1million in total prize money. If you fancy a bet on this massive race, check out all of our racing offers and free bets or read on for our tips.
International Stakes Tips and Betting Offers, 3:35 at York, 21st August 2019
The International Stakes is the feature race of the first day at the Ebor Festival. It’s a genuinely huge Group 1 contest which has been won by the like of Sea The Stars, Frankel and Australia. The winner of this year’s renewal will be typically high class but who is going to come out on top?
No Repeat of Ascot
There is no doubt that the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes was the race of the flat season so far. The pre race billing was all about the head to head battle between Enable and Crystal Ocean and the two did not disappoint.
In the end, Enable’s brilliance and her 3lb allowance saw her pull away from Crystal Ocean to keep her winning streak going. Everybody heading to York on Wednesday was desperate for a repeat in the International Stakes but the decision’s been made to run Enable in the Yorkshire Oaks instead.
As disappointing as that is, it should provide Crystal Ocean with a very good chance to land another Group 1. He is the top rated horse currently in training according to the British Horseracing Authority’s rankings but has remarkably only won one Group 1 in his career to date.
That win came in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot where he got the better of some high class competition. Although he’s a fairly strong favourite at 11/8 with BetVictor, Crystal Ocean will still need a performance somewhere close to his best if he is to land his second Group 1.
Connections are already looking forward to another crack against Enable in the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe but Sir Michael Stoute is well aware of the size of the task this week at York. He’ll ensure that Crystal Ocean is suitably prepared and that James Doyle is well aware of the race tactics so favourite backers should be confident.
Cricus Maximus Can Throw the Gauntlet to His Elders
The International Stakes will be the fourth Group 1 in a row for Circus Maximus. Aidan O’Brien’s three-year-old didn’t make too much of an impression in the Derby but he bounced back with victory in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot before being narrowly edged out by Too Darn Hot in the Sussex Stakes.
Not everybody is convinced that Circus Maximus is a top class horse in the making but the step up back in trip should suit him well. Whether that’s enough for him to challenge the market principles remains to be seen but an each way bet may just return nicely at 10/1 with bet365.
Betting Predictions
Crystal Ocean has further strengthened Sir Michael Stoute’s reputation as one of the very best in the business at coaxing improvement out of older horses. The five-year-old has already earned his shot at the Arc and looks a strong option to add another Group 1 to his CV at York. BetVictor’s price of 11/8 on the favourite is likely to come in the closer we get to the off so make sure to grab it while it lasts.
Previous Winners
- 2018 – Roaring Lion – jockey Oisin Murphy, trainer John Gosden
- 2017 – Ulysses – jockey Jim Crowley, trainer Sir Michael Stoute
- 2016 – Postponed – jockey Andrea Atzeni, trainer Roger Varian
- 2015 – Arabian Queen – jockey Silvestre de Sousa, trainer David Elsworth
- 2014 – Australia – jockey Joseph O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2013 – Declaration Of War – jockey Joseph O’Brien, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2012 – Frankel – jockey Tom Queally, trainer Sir Henry Cecil
- 2011 – Twice Over – jockey Ian Mongan, trainer Sir Henry Cecil
- 2010 – Rip Van Winkle – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2009 – Sea The Stars – jockey Michael Kinane, trainer John Oxx
- 2008 – Duke Of Marmalade – jockey Johnny Murtagh, trainer Aidan O’Brien
- 2007 – Authorized – jockey Frankie Dettori, trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam
Juddmonte International Stakes History
First run in 1972, the race initially went by the name of the Benson and Henson Gold Cup, a title which it retained until 1985 when Matchmaker took over the sponsorship of the race. Current sponsors Juddmonte stepped in in 1989 and the event has come to be known as the Juddmonte International ever since.
The contest immediately marked its place in the annals of racing history, with the inaugural edition featuring the only defeat of the brilliant Brigadier Gerrard’s 18 race career. Regularly in the top three in greatest ever lists, he found that year’s Derby winner Roberto too good on the day.
1974 and 1975 marked the first dual success in the race as the sensational US mare Dahlia proved too good for them all. Also a dual King George winner, this globetrotting superstar more than earnt her place in American racings hall of fame. As of 2016, the only other runners to double up here are Ezzoud (1993, 1994), and Halling (1995, 1996).
Singspiel (1997), Giant’s Causeway (2000) and Australia (2014) are other famous and popular names to feature on the roll of honour here, with the race enjoying a real golden period since the turn of the century.
When it comes to brilliance and versatility, there are few to top John Oxx’s brilliant 2000 Guineas, Derby and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner Sea The Stars. The son of Cape Cross added this contest to his career haul when seeing off Mastercraftsman in 2009.
When it comes to great horses though, there is one name which stands above them all, the incomparable, irresistible, Frankel. The Sir Henry Cecil trained legend didn’t just win this in 2012, he simply pulverised the opposition. A field including the talented Farhh, 2011 winner of this Twice Over, and multiple Group 1 winner St. Nicholas Abbey were slammed by seven lengths in a breath-taking display.
As befitting one of the biggest races of the year, the names which feature atop the trainers and jockeys tables here are some of the true titans of the sport. Newmarket supremo, Sir Michael Stoute, and the Master Of Ballydoyle, Aidan O’Brien lead the way amongst the handlers with five wins apiece. Five is also the magic number for the riders here, with the greatest ever, Lester Piggott, and everyone’s favourite Italian, Frankie Dettori tied for the lead.
The first 45 editions of this contest showed a fairly even spread when it came to the age of the winner, with 15 wins for the three year olds, 20 for the four year olds and 10 for those aged five and older.