Roaring Lion dominates his Gr. 1 International rivals
Roaring Lion gave Qatar Racing a third Gr. 1 win of 2018 when smoothly winning the Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Wednesday.
Coral-Eclipse winner Roaring Lion enhanced his reputation further when following up in the Juddmonte International on the Knavesmire, beating the favourite Poet's Word - who was chasing a Gr. 1 hat-trick - by three and a quarter lengths.
In truth, the star three-year-old, now the best middle-distance colt of his generation, never looked like getting beaten, always travelling supremely well under Oisin Murphy before putting the race to bed a furlong and a half out. Poet's Word met some trouble when beginning his challenge, but the winning margin means it's hard to say he would have beaten Roaring Lion with a clear run.
Roaring Lion became just the third 3-year-old to win the Juddmonte International since Sea The Stars in 2009, but it was a first success in the race for Qatar Racing, trainer John Gosden and jockey Oisin Murphy, the last-named riding high with his fourth Gr. 1s of the season. It was also a third Gr. 1 of the year for Qatar Racing (Lightning Spear also won the Sussex Stakes).
Roaring Lion added his name to a long list of top-class horses to have won the Juddmonte, also among them Halling, Singspiel and, of course, the mighty Frankel.
John Gosden said post-race: ‚"He'd been training exceptionally well and we made no secret. Kieran O'Neill is the man who needs a lot of congratulations here, along with Ben, who looks after him, they've done a wonderful job with him.
"I had a difficult spring with him, it was horrible, cold and wet and he wasn't enjoying it but he's just got better and better and this wasn't a fluke.
‚"He was the last one off the bridle in the Derby but plainly didn't stay but he's won an Eclipse and now the Juddmonte. He's got a massive middle and has got bigger and stronger as the year has gone on. The curve was upward all the way and this is a much better horse than the one who ran at Sandown. I was expecting a big performance and we got one.‚"
Sheikh Fahad was also on hand to help ead in the very popular grey, and he added: ‚"Dunaden winning the Melbourne Cup was high on my list but this one might have gone and eclipsed that. To see what we've seen at home on a racetrack and beat all these Group 1 winners [six of them] in that way, was very impressive."
After the celebrations have finally subsided, the decision will be made as to what Roaring Lion does next. The Irish Champion Stakes and Champion Stakes at Ascot are possible options, and whether he retires at 3 or races on also needs be discussed.
It's a very exciting time for Qatar Racing and we'd like to thank all those that have worked hard to help us achieve this success.