With the Aidan O'Brien team largely absent due to a spate of coughing in the stable the door is open for the other contenders to step forward for top honours at York's Ebor Meeting. The absence of the Ballydoyle big guns can play into the hands of trainer Marcus Tregoning and his horse Nayef, who looks a great bet to take the Juddmonte International Stakes on Tuesday.
The four-year-old son of Gulch and top broodmare Height Of Fashion was a game runner-up to Golan in the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes at Ascot. He battled tenaciously to go down by just a head that day after a relatively disappointing start to the season.
Nayef is a horse who comes better in the second half of the year as he proved last term when winning four good races between August and October. Tregoning steps him back down to 10 furlongs here and he is hopeful of landing the spoils. 'I am looking forward to it and I hope we can win this time,'the trainer said.
Filed by James McMahon
