Roaring Lion impresses with easy win in the Juddmonte International at York
John Gosden's colt sprinted clear to beat a top-class field in the valuable Group 1
ROARING LION was the King in the Juddmonte International at York on Wednesday.
John Gosden's top-class colt showed his rivals a clean pair of heels in the £1,062,500 feature on day one of the Ebor Festival at York.
In a red-hot field featuring seven individual Group 1 winners, Godolphin's Thunder Snow set a strong tempo under Christophe Soumillon.
The field tracked over to the stands side at the top of the straight, leaving the 8-5 favourite Poet's Word boxed in on the rail.
Meanwhile, Roaring Lion enjoyed a clear run under a confident Oisin Murphy, and once asked to quicken the three-year-old easily shot clear to register a huge win.
Poet's Word ran well to take second while 50-1 outsider Thundering Blue, who was added to the race at a cost of £75,000, repaid the faith of trainer David Menuisier when finishing late for third, netting just shy of £115,000.
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Gosden said: "He's run a lovely race. They went an honest pace.
"You've got Dubai World Cup winners in there, Poet's Word came at him and ran a blinder. There were no hiding places out there.
"We were delighted with him - I was expecting a big performance from him.
"This horse ran a great race in the Derby. He won his Eclipse well and he's got better through the season. He's got bigger and stronger."
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The leading trainer said it had not been an easy task getting Roaring Lion to reach his peak.
He continued: "He had a difficult spring, but he's done nothing but improve since.
"He's a mile-and-a-quarter horse through and through and I'd have been very disappointed if he hadn't run like that today."
Gosden added that the colt would remain at a mile and two furlongs for the foreseeable future.
He said: "He won't be going for the Arc. The Irish Champion is an obvious possibility, as is Ascot (Champion Stakes).
"I would run him on good to soft ground, but I wouldn't want to run him on soft - that is the only proviso I have. He has a beautiful action.
"A good mile-and-a-quarter horse gets a mile and a half in America, but the Breeders' Cup Turf is a long way off.
"I think you should savour a race like this, see how the horse is in the next 10 days and then make plans.
"I'll be disappointed if he's retired at the end of the season. He's just getting good."
Sir Michael Stoute took the defeat of Poet's Word well, with the horse losing momentum at a vital stage in the race.
Stoute said: "James (Doyle) said it was very messy and he had to switch direction.
"We thought we were in a good position turning in and then we were in the worst position.
"He was very brave to then get balanced and come back and get second so I could only be pleased with him.
"The winner had gone when we were reorganising."
Menuisier, who is enjoying a fine season, was proud of the performance of the grey Thundering Blue.
Menuisier said: "I'm extremely pleased. When we looked at the final declarations, we all had a good laugh, but the horse told us he was super well.
"I'm so proud of him. The way he came home, against that calibre of opposition, I'd like to think he can win a Group 1.
"The Canadian International has always been on our minds and I'd love to be invited to the Japan Cup.
"Fran (Berry) rode a lot out there and thinks it would suit him really well. We also think he'll improve for a mile and a half."
Earlier on the card, Charlie Appleby's Old Persian narrowly held off the strong challenge of his stablemate Cross Counter to win the Great Voltiguer Stakes.
The winner is now likely to head for the St Leger next month, as will the third Kew Gardens who is the antepost favourite for next month's Classic at Doncaster.
Appleby said: "The two horses came here in great order. I put a line through Old Persian's run in the Irish Derby (when sixth).
"We might have backed up quick enough after Royal Ascot, but I always felt the horse was going there in great order.
"It was more the fact the race didn't pan out as we expected as they slowed up in front and we weren't in the right position.
"The horse needed a break from there and he had a nice, little break.
"The team have got him back well and we were confident coming into today. He's bred to get a trip and he galloped out strongly."