Juddmonte International Stakes + Detailed Briefing Document

This briefing document provides a comprehensive overview of the key themes, important ideas, and factual information concerning the horses entered in the Juddmonte International Stakes, as derived from the provided sources. Quotes from the original text are included where appropriate to support observations.

Race Overview: Juddmonte International Stakes

The Juddmonte International Stakes is a Group 1, Class 1 race with a significant total prize value of £1,319,375. It is run over 1 mile 2 furlongs and 56 yards, and is open to horses aged 3 years and older. Horses must have a BHA Handicap Rating of 80 or higher to be eligible. Weight conditions vary by age and sex: 3-year-old colts & geldings carry 9st 1lb, fillies 8st 12lb; 4-year-old+ colts & geldings carry 9st 8lb, fillies 9st 5lb. There is a 7lb weight-for-age allowance for 3-year-olds from 4-year-olds+.

Horse Profiles and Key Insights:

1. Birr Castle (5-y-o bay gelding)

• Trainer: A Fabre
• Jockey: Robert Havlin
• Owner: Godolphin SNC
• Rating (RPR): Life 119, 2025 117, Dist 119, Class 1 119.
• Key Themes/Facts:Consistent Performer, but Lacking Winning Edge at Top Level: Birr Castle has a high RPR (119 life) but a win record of only 3 wins from 20 runs. His note-book entries highlight consistency in defeat at Group 2 level, with comments like “wasn’t disgraced” (7844a) and “running well in defeat” (1777a).
• Recent Form: His 2025 form shows 0 wins from 6 runs. Recent placings include 4th of 7 (8Jul Chan), 4th of 5 (6Apr Lonc G2), and 6th of 10 (9Mar Chan).
• Potential for Improvement (Soft Ground): “may have appreciated the rain-eased ground and ran at least as well as ever” (9072a) suggests he performs well on softer conditions.
• Previous International Experience: Ran in the Bahrn G2 (9072a), indicating experience on the international stage.

2. Danon Decile (4-y-o chestnut colt)

• Trainer: Shogo Yasuda
• Jockey: Keita Tosaki
• Owner: Danox Co Ltd
• Rating (RPR): Life 131, 2025 131, Dist 112, Class 1 131.
• Key Themes/Facts:Japanese Derby Winner & Emerging International Star: Described as “last year’s Japanese Derby winner” (1783a) and “on this evidence he looks set to become a big player on the international stage.”
• Striking Recent Performance: Won the Meyd G1 (1783a) with a “striking performance,” demonstrating a “best turn of foot.”
• Jockey Confidence: Jockey Keita Tosaki praised him: “Danon Decile is a very, very good horse… He ran a great race, travelled really well on the bridle… I am delighted we proved his ability here in Dubai.” (1783a Quotes).
• Potential Concerns: Was “rather keen” (1783a) before his Meydan win, suggesting a need to settle.

3. Ombudsman (4-y-o bay colt)

• Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
• Jockey: William Buick
• Owner: Godolphin
• Rating (RPR): Life 136, 2025 136, Dist 136, Class 1 136.
• Key Themes/Facts:Top-Rated and Highly Promising: Boasts the highest RPR (136) among the listed runners. His trainer, John Gosden, refers to him as “a special horse” and “a very talented horse” (4084 Quotes).
• Progressive Form: “likely this late-developer is capable of elevating his form even higher” (4084). He has shown significant progression, especially after his Prince of Wales’s win, which was confirmed as “no fluke” (4723).
• Adaptability to Ground: “He’s a winner on soft, but clearly thrives on this sort of surface” (4084), indicating versatility.
• Jockey’s Praise: William Buick describes him as “impressive, very impressive” and believes “that was a taste of what’s to come for sure. He’s got low miles on the clock, he’s an exciting horse for sure” (4084 Quotes).
• Tactical Versatility: While he can race from behind and quicken, he also has the ability to be close to the pace if the race dictates (4723 Quotes).
• Patient Connections: John Gosden credits the owner’s patience for his development: “it’s just a question of an owner giving you the time to let them mature and get there, I never get pushed, he’ll never be the horse he was unless I had such a patient owner.” (4084 Quotes).

4. See The Fire (4-y-o chestnut filly)

• Trainer: Andrew Balding
• Jockey: Oisin Murphy
• Owner: J C Smith
• Breeder: Littleton Stud
• Rating (RPR): Life 130, 2025 130, Dist 130, Class 1 130.
• Key Themes/Facts:High-Class Filly with Group 1 Aspirations: Trainer Andrew Balding states, “We’ve always had a very high opinion of See The Fire and she’s improved since last year… She’s a very exciting horse” (2921 Quotes).
• Proven on Course & Distance: “romping to a 12l win in the Middleton at York – that’s a course she seems to excel at” (4084). She also won at York over 8.8f (6320).
• Stamina: While beaten in Group 1s over a mile, “A mile is perhaps a little on the short side for her now, and she’ll stay in training next year” (7794). Her win at York (2921) suggests “she obviously relishes this trip.”
• Dam’s Connection to Juddmonte: “We don’t need to remind people who her dam was when winning the Juddmonte, so we know she was bred for the job” (6320 Quotes), suggesting a strong pedigree for this race.
• Tactical Preferences: Oisin Murphy notes she “enjoys tracking on to the back of them… but then when it opened up she was electric” (6320 Quotes) and “will be far better off a stronger pace” (6847a Quotes, from an earlier race but still relevant to style).

5. Daryz (3-y-o bay colt)

• Trainer: F-H Graffard
• Jockey: Mickael Barzalona
• Owner: Aga Khan Studs SCEA
• Rating (RPR): Life 117, 2025 117, Dist 117, Class 1 116.
• Key Themes/Facts:Unbeaten & Highly Promising: Currently “retained his unbeaten record” (4520a) and is described as “a very good horse who is up to Group 1 level and is progressing with every run” (4520a Quotes).
• Strong Pedigree: “He’s bred to be very good; his dam and granddam were both Group 1 winners and he has five stakes-winning siblings, while he really takes after Sea The Stars” (4520a Quotes).
• Potential for Further Distance: “should improve when allowed to tackle 1m4f” (4520a) and “should stay 1m4f” (3755a). The Grand Prix de Paris was a prior target.
• Tactical Style: Showed a “bright turn of foot” (4520a) despite a “very steady pace” (4520a Quotes).
• Patient Handling: “You can see Daryz is a big, imposing horse so we haven’t rushed him” (3755a Quotes).

6. Delacroix (3-y-o bay colt)

• Trainer: A P O’Brien
• Jockey: Ryan Moore
• Owner: Derrick Smith & Mrs John Magnier & Michael Tabor
• Rating (RPR): Life 132, 2025 132, Dist 132, Class 1 132.
• Key Themes/Facts:Derby Favourite Redemption: “the hugely disappointing Derby favourite, banished memories of Epsom with a first Group 1 victory” (4723). His Epsom run was attributed to interference and being “never on terms” (3715).
• First-Class Group 1 Win: His Sandown Group 1 win (4723) was a “first-class effort,” coming from last to first on a track favouring pace, despite being bumped and stumbling.
• Superior Turn of Foot: Ryan Moore stated he “showed a very good turn of foot” (4723 Quotes) and “had a superior turn of foot today.”
• Dubawi Pedigree: By Dubawi out of the top-class mare Tepin, suggesting high-class ability, though Ryan Moore initially thought he “wouldn’t be surprised if he is a miler” (4723 Quotes) before the Sandown win.
• Irish Champion Stakes Prospect: “looks a natural for the Irish Champion at a C&D he’s won over twice before” (4723), suggesting a strong preference for this distance.
• Improved Mentally: Trainer Aidan O’Brien noted he’s “growing up” and “racing will only help him” (1640a).

Overarching Themes:

• International Calibre: The field features prominent horses from France (Birr Castle, Daryz), Japan (Danon Decile), and the UK/Ireland (Ombudsman, See The Fire, Delacroix), highlighting the international prestige of the Juddmonte International Stakes.
• Progressive Talent: Several horses, particularly the 3-year-olds (Daryz, Delacroix) and the “late-developer” Ombudsman, are described as having significant potential for further improvement and are expected to “elevate their form even higher.”
• Pedigree and Breeding Excellence: Many horses boast exceptional breeding, with their sires and dams having high average winning distances (awd) and average earnings indices (aei), suggesting they are bred to excel at this level and distance (e.g., Ombudsman by Night Of Thunder, See The Fire by Sea The Stars, Delacroix by Dubawi out of Tepin, Daryz by Sea The Stars).
• Trainer and Jockey Confidence: Quotes from trainers and jockeys express strong belief in their horses’ abilities, particularly after impressive Group 1 victories (e.g., Keita Tosaki on Danon Decile, John Gosden and William Buick on Ombudsman, Aidan O’Brien and Ryan Moore on Delacroix).
• Adaptability and Preferred Conditions: While most runners show versatility, some notes highlight preferences for pace (Ombudsman benefits from a good gallop), ground conditions (Birr Castle appreciates ease in the ground, Ombudsman thrives on faster ground), or tactical running styles (See The Fire enjoys tracking).
• Redemption and Confirmation of Form: Delacroix’s impressive Sandown win served to “banish memories of Epsom,” confirming his Group 1 ability after a disappointing Derby. Similarly, Ombudsman’s subsequent run validated his Royal Ascot win as “no fluke.”

This briefing document provides a comprehensive analysis of the key contenders and factors influencing their performance in the Juddmonte International Stakes, drawing directly from the provided source material.