Poet’s Word and Roaring Lion on course for York clash

Poet’s Word wins The Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot. Picture: Steven Cargill/Racingfotos.com

Poet’s Word and Roaring Lion are on course to clash in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York next week.

The pair dominate the betting for the mile and a quarter showpiece in eight days time after sparkling this summer but are not frightening away the opposition because on Tuesday afternoon Aidan O’Brien indicated Saxon Warrior, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner, is on course to run, while his son, Joseph, suggested Latrobe, the Irish Derby winner, would also line up.

Poet’s Word landed an epic QIPCO-sponsored King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes last month, having previously won the  Prince of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.

In between, Roaring Lion got the better of QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner Saxon Warrior in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail, who owns Poet’s Word, said: “Poet’s Word worked very well on Sunday morning. He worked on the all-weather, which he has done most of his work on.

“He just had a nice breeze and that was good. Michael was very happy with him and he is on schedule to run at York. A mile and a quarter, a mile and a half – it’s the same for him.”

Stoute won the Juddmonte International with Ulysses last season and also claimed the race with Notnowcato (2006), Singspiel (1997), Ezzoud (1993 and 1994) and Shardari (1986).

Roaring Lion also worked over the weekend and Oisin Murphy, his regular rider, told At The Races: “Rab [Havlin] rode him on Saturday, just in an exercise gallop, and he was really pleased. He said the horse is in super order.

“He gave me a super ride in the Dante and the track seems to suit a horse like him, so hopefully he stays healthy and we go there with a chance. I’m just lucky to get the leg up on him.”