‘Special’ Ghaiyyath tipped for Juddmonte International joy

First run in 1972 and now regarded as European racing’s premier 10-furlong contest, Ghaiyyath heads to York as the world’s best horse on official ratings following two Group One wins.

The five-year-old made all, and broke the course record, when scorching clear to land the Coronation Cup at Newmarket before being ridden with restraint to land Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse from the talismanic Enable.

And while York’s configuration – and long home straight – is likely to play to the strengths of this front-runner, William Buick’s mount will have to be at his best to triumph in a race that counts the likes of Roberto, Rodrigo De Triano, Sea The Stars, Frankel and Roaring Lion amongst some of its great winners.

His four rivals are formidable – the 2000 Guineas hero Kameko; runaway Royal Ascot victor Lord North; multiple Group One winner Magical and Rose Of Kildare who won last month’s Musidora Stakes for Middleham trainer Marl Johnston. Roger Charlton’s Aspetar is a late absentee.

But Appleby now believes that Ghaiyyath, a standard-bearer for Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin operation, has the necessary temperament and pace to justify his world rating.

“This could be one of the best races of the season, and it is exciting to be part of it,” said Appleby, whose burgeoning CV already includes an Epsom Derby with Masar.

“It is the first time the top three-year-olds will be taking on the older horses at this trip (the Eclipse was restricted to four-year-olds and up this year). The Juddmonte was always the plan for Ghaiyyath.

“I’ve been asked whether I was surprised the way he won the Coronation Cup, and the honest answer is ‘no’. You don’t win a Group One by 14 lengths like he did in Germany (2019 Grosser Preis Von Baden) by being just an OK horse. You’ve got to be pretty special... and he is special.

“That day at Baden Baden, the ground rode on the fast side of good. Before that, we thought he was more comfortable on a slower surface, but what he has shown us since on quicker ground knocks that theory out of the park.”

Appleby added: “He’s the finished article now, and that has a lot to do with it. He’s shown that he has grown up mentally and physically, and he’s taken his races so well this season.

“He was digging deep over the final furlong in the Eclipse, yet he came back fine.

“It was no harder race for him than the Coronation Cup, which he won going an end-to-end gallop over a mile and a half in record time.

“He showed maturity at Sandown. He showed he was manageable in a race, which is the result of growing up.”

In the chief supporting race, the impeccably-bred and unbeaten Darain faces a step up in distance and class in Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Jointly owned by Sheikh Fahad’s Qatar Racing operation and Lord and Lady Lloyd-Webber’s Watership Down Stud, this is a son of Dubawi out of the top-class racemare Dar Re Mi.

Darain has certainly upheld family honour thus far, with an impressive debut victory at Newbury supplemented by a dominant display at Newmarket little over a fortnight later.

John Gosden’s charge faces a far sterner test as he goes in search of a hat-trick, but his potential is huge if champion jockey Oisin Murphy’s mount can deny Aidan O’Brien’s Mogul.