Midday to Face Twice Over in Juddmonte International
- By A.J. Ryder on August 10, 2011 17:31 GMT
The York Ebor Festival is drawing closer by the day and, while many are firmly focused on the long-distance feature race of the festival, there is a genuinely intriguing clash set to unfold earlier in the week as globetrotting horse Twice Over takes on his stablemate Midday in their owners' namesake Group 1.
Conditioner Sir Henry Cecil declared that both contenders impressed on the gallops on Wednesday and, though Midday carries another entry, both could be pointed at the York contest. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Cecil declared “Midday is also entered in the Yorkshire Oaks but hopefully, if we are happy with her wellbeing, we will be more likely to give the owner a double representation in his own race, which he would dearly love to win for the first time.”
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A six year old son of Observatory, Twice Over has enjoyed his three previous attempts at York and has never finished off the board over the York surface. Cecil elaborated on his condition. “It was nice to see Twice Over come back to himself last time at York. He is working well. I was very pleased with them both this morning as Midday also worked very nicely.”
Vita Nova is expected to take the place of Midday should the switch be made to the Juddmonte.
19 horses remain in the mix for this one and the reining best horse on the planet, Frankel, remains entered for this one. He trades at a 9/1 price on the exchanges and it looks likely that he will wind up elsewhere.
An interesting element is added by the fact that Await The Dawn is entered for this one and trading at an odds-on price for the win. Await The Dawn, relatively lightly-raced for such a respected colt, is also the ante post favourite to win the 2011 Breeders' Cup Classic at Churchill Downs in November. Sensational filly Snow Fairy carries an entry for this one as does Misty For Me, Campanologist and Roderic O'Connor.
The Ebor Festival culminates on August 20th with the big feature race.
