Racing

Dual derby star Australia to face five rivals in Juddmonte

Joseph O’Brien will slim down to take ride at York

Joseph O’Brien will again be in the saddle on Australia for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International at York. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Joseph O’Brien will again be in the saddle on Australia for Wednesday’s Juddmonte International at York. Photograph: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
Mon Aug 18 2014 - 12:12

Aidan O’Brien’s dual Derby hero Australia will face five rivals in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.

Since being narrowly beaten into third by Night Of Thunder and Kingman in the 2000 Guineas, the son of Galileo and Ouija Board has blown away his opponents at Epsom and the Curragh to confirm himself the leading three-year-old over middle distances.

The trainer’s son, Joseph, has been ever-present in the saddle during Australia’s six-race career and is set to slim down to 8st 12lb to keep the partnership intact as the three-year-old is pitched into all-aged company for the first time.

However, just two older horses have turned up, with the Michael Stoute-trained Telescope and William Haggas’s stable star Mukhadram both proven top-notchers, having finished second and third respectively in the King George at Ascot last month.

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Mukhadram had previously claimed a first Group One in Sandown’s Coral-Eclipse, while Telescope impressed in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Kevin Ryan’s French Derby winner The Grey Gatsby is an interesting contender, returning to the scene of his victory in the Dante Stakes earlier in the year.

Peter Chapple-Hyam’s Arod has ground to make up on Australia on Epsom form, but is expected to be more effective over a mile and a quarter.

Australia’s stable companion Kingfisher completes the field.

Ryan Moore has been confirmed to ride Kingston Hill after the English Derby runner-up was one of 10 horses declared for Wednesday's Great Voltigeur Stakes at York.

Trainer Roger Varian has kept his options open with the grey, who was also entered in the Juddmonte, after having finished fourth in the Coral-Eclipse last time.

His main opponents look to be Hartnell, viewed as a St Leger candidate by trainer Mark Johnston after victories in the Queen's Vase and Bahrain Trophy, and Stoute's Gordon Stakes winner Snow Sky.

O’Brien will bring across both the impressive Tipperary scorer Granddukeoftuscany and Indian Maharaja.

Observational is given another chance to stake a claim by Roger Charlton, having run moderately in the Gordon Stakes, while Postponed is tested further after winning a Hamilton Listed race.

Marzocco, Odeon and Red Galileo complete what is usually regarded as the strongest St Leger trial.