Juddmonte International Stakes (G1)

[Kitan]

Comfortable win, but on second viewing not as easy as I originally thought. Obviously a very good horse, but who has he beaten yet? That's my only knock!

[_ed_]

I think it was a pretty good field he beat here.

The Grey Gatsby won the G2 Dante Stakes and G1 French Derby. Telescope won the G2 Hardwicke Stakes at Royal Ascot by seven lengths, then finished second in the G1 King George. Mukhadram won the G1 Eclipse, then finished third in the King George. He was second in the Dubai World Cup earlier in the year.

And remember Australia was so close to Kingman when they were second and third in the 2000 Guineas. Look at what Kingman's done since.

[Kitan]

I would say it was a good field, but not outstanding.

There doesn't seem to be anything special from the French crop of 3yos, but time will tell. Telescope smashed a not so special field at Ascot. Mukhadram is a good horse but isn't elite.

He beat nothing in the Irish Derby. The horses that came out of Epsom have been fairly unspectacular. I know he was only 0.5L behind Kingman, but he still didn't beat him.

I'm not cynical in the sense that I'm saying Australia isn't a superstar, I just need him to beat the elite before I can believe all the hype.