York Ebor meeting: day one

York´s biggest meeting of the year starts today, when the main feature is the Group One Juddmonte International over an extended 10 furlongs at 16.25 CET. Unfortunately the field has cut up badly, and astonishingly there are no English-trained runners, the first time this has ever happened in a British Group One. Sea the Stars (John Oxx/ Mick Kinane) is rated the best in the world at present and has scared off most of the opposition.

Here he has only 3 opponents, all trained by Aidan O´Brien, and it is clear that only Mastercraftsman (Johnny Murtagh) has any chance of finishing anywhere near the Oxx star, as the other two Georgebernardshaw (Colm O´Donoghue) and Set Sail (Seamus Heffernan) are only in the race as pacemakers and have no chance on form. Obviously this is going to be a tactical race, but Sea the Stars, out of Arc winner Urban Sea, appears to have no chinks in his armour and should easily account for Mastercraftsman, winner of the St. James´s Palace Stakes last time and earlier the Irish 2,000 Guineas. He has never yet run beyond a mile, while Sea the Stars has won the Derby and the Eclipse Stakes - arguably the best race run so far this year in Europe- and looks unbeatable here. We remember Brigadier Gerard getting beaten in this race, so no horse is ever certain to win, but Sea trhe Stars certainly looks almost impregnable.

There are two more group races on the York card, the Great Voltigeur Stakes over 1 1/2 miles for 3yo´s at 15.50, an important St. Leger trial, and the Acomb Stakes over 7 furlongs for 2yo´s at 15.15. With the Godolphin stable now in top form, it would be no surprise to see them take both these events; in the former they run Italian Derby winner Mastery (Frankie Dettori) , who has Harbinger (Sir Michael Stoute/ Ryan Moore) and Alwaary (John Gosden/ Richard Hills) to beat, and in the 2yo race they have two runners, Poet´s Voice Dettori) and Vale of York (Ted Durcan), both easy winners last time out. There is also racing tis afternoon at Brighton but at a very low level indeed.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Hamish Mcgonagall - Buachaill Dona - Northern Dare
2. Race: Poet`S Voice - Mata Keranjang - Party Doctor
3. Race: Harbinger - Alwaary - Father Time
4. Race: Sea The Stars - Mastercraftsman - Tartan Bearer
5. Race: Step In Time - Pintura - Lord Aeryn
6. Race: Royal Destination - Laterly - Jack Dawkins