Alcohol Free is a fascinating addition to Wednesday’s G1 International Stakes, a race with such a lofty reputation that it has been named as the highest rated horse race in the world.
York is a left-handed, almost flat track with a long home straight of about 900m, and it is the distance of this historic event – 2051m – which will surely either make or break the fortunes of the Andrew Balding-trained daughter of No Nay Never who will be ridden as usual by Oisin Murphy.
A massive bargain purchase at just 40,000 euros, she has now won three G1’s latterly when thundering through the rain-soaked ground to win Royal Ascot’s Coronation Stakes (1594m) and most recently after getting the better of an epic stretch battle with Poetic Flare in the 1600m G1 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
After discussions with the star miler’s owner Jeff Smith, Balding says: “We’ve come this far and Jeff is never one to shy away from a challenge. The filly is in great form and really thriving at the moment so why not?”
Multiple G1 winning filly Love (Ryan Moore), a runway winner of the G1 Yorkshire Oaks (2371m) last year, will represent Aidan O’Brien and then there is the hugely talented and versatile moneyspinner Mishriff (David Egan) – already the hero of the 2021 Saudi Cup (1800m dirt) and the Dubai Sheema Classic (2410m turf) – was 3.75L behind St Mark’s Basilica in the Eclipse and before his 1.75L second to Epsom Derby winner Adayar in Ascot’s G1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2392m).
Thady Gosden, who trains Mishriff in partnership with his father John, said: “Mishriff is very tough and has come out of that Ascot run well.” Galloping with his head held low as usual he looked in great shape prior to this first experience of York as he worked in front of a big crowd at Newmarket on Wednesday (11 August).
Trainer William Haggas whose stable is in sensational form will run both Alenquer and Mohaafeth. The former, switched from the longer G2 Great Voltigeur Stakes (2371m), also on Wednesday, will surely need a ferocious pace to aim at, having looked a stayer when winning Royal Ascot’s G2 King Edward VII Stakes (2392m).
And strong-travelling Mohaafeth, another of the stable’s Royal Ascot winners when landing the G3 Hampton Court Stakes (1993m), requires a fast surface on this elevation to G1 company, a possibility according to current ground predictions.
