Ebor Festival kicks off with Baaeed

York, Wednesday 17 August: The four-day Ebor Festival at York starts today with a seven-race programme. The International Stakes (4th race/16.35/1 million pounds/2060m) takes centre stage, but has to cope with a non-runner in the form of the German-bred Alenquer.

That does not shake the clear favourite position of Baaeed (Jim Crowley), who is still unbeaten after nine wins. William Haggas` charge, who recently performed well in the Sussex Stakes (Group 1), will be tested this time by Mishriff (James Doyle), who won last year`s fixture and is currently third behind Torquator Tasso in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1). Prior to that, the five-year-old battled to victory in the Eclipse Stakes (Group 1) and behind him finished just as close Native Trail (William Buick), who suffered the second defeat of his career after finishing second in the English 2000 Guineas. Sir Busker (Ben Curtis) and Dubai Honour (Tom Marquand) successfully rehearsed for today`s task in the York Stakes (Group 2) here but, like the well-classed High Definition (Ryan Moore), hit it too hard.