MONGAN MASTERCLASS IN INTERNATIONAL

York 14:30 - sportingbet.com Acomb Stakes (Group 3)

A taking performance from winner ENTIFAADHA who had to work hard to see off the placed horses but did so with a willing attitude.

He isn't the biggest so may lack the scope for improvement of some of his rivals but he is a sharp two-year-old and a race like the Champagne Stakes over this trip may be a better route than the Dewhurst or Racingpost Trophy options; he's entered in lots of races, and got the obligatory Guineas quote directly after this win.

He got a nice tow through the race from the keen-going Archbishop and was always well-placed by Richard Hills, although he seemed to find a little trouble around the bend. However once on an even keel he found his stride, and despite being off the bridle quite early, he continued to battle on well.

He didn't put the race to bed immediately but he was gutsy and always looked in command in the final 50 yards.

Fort Bastion is still a maiden but he ran a cracker here, finishing second and bouncing back from an average HQ run last time.

He was always near the pace, and although he came off the bit as the pace quickened, he actually came back on the bridle with two to run. He had every chance in the final 200 yards but just found a better horse on the day.

Third home was Zumbi who came from further back than the first pair. He too held every chance with a furlong to go but seemed to get a little tired, perhaps due to the going or having to make up his ground quite quickly. He has lots of scope for improvement but might just be better off back over six furlongs at this stage of his career.

Fourth, and unlucky, was Caledonian Springs. He represents an unfashionable yard but would surely have been placed had he got a clear run. He was repeatedly hampered (held up last) and only made up his ground when finally granted some fresh air; compensation awaits down the line.

The first quartet were clear of Al Khan who travelled well but the response when asked to quicken was tepid; he probably raced too keenly to begin with.

Sixth home was Archbishop who set the pace but certainly raced far too keenly. He looks a nice long-term prospect however, whilst Furners Green and Moon Pearl were both well-held but each ran on quite takingly late in the day. Balty Boys was outpaced throughout and made some modest late headway.

York 15:05 - sportingbet.com Great Voltigeur Stakes (Group 2)

The stand-out performance of the day and a ruthless victory which saw SEA MOON (rightly) jump to St Leger favouritism.

It's easy to get carried away with performances, but this was so visually impressive that if he makes it to Doncaster in the same form then he will take plenty of beating, although quotes of even money at this stage make no appeal.

Richard Hughes, back riding for Prince Khalid Abdullah in the absence of Ryan Moore, held him up off the pace for most of the way but then made up his ground effortlessly as they turned in.

Coming to the near side as the wheat was sorted from the chaff, he seemed to roll into favourite Seville when starting to make his challenge. That didn't put him off however as he was quickly back on the bridle and then mastered Seville quickly, cutting him up slightly, before powering away for an ever increasing winning distance.

This race has been a very good trial for the St Leger (most recently Lucarno in 2007) and indeed Sea Moon's close relation Brian Boru was second here before going on to Doncaster glory. He's obviously very progressive and is very highly-thought-of, however he is sure to face a sterner test next month as this field, despite some good form, doesn't appear to have run up to their best.

That comment especially applies to hot favourite Seville. He was well-placed throughout, and came through travelling well to launch a challenge with three furlongs to run. However he was quickly brushed aside by the winner, and couldn't muster enough to see off Al Khazeem who finished second.

The form of Aidan O'Brien's colt has been at the top level and this was probably the run of a horse who needs a good break. On a side note his stablemate and pacemaker Regent Street was ridden far too aggressively in a first-time visor and might as well have not bothered turning up.

Plenty of credit must go to runner-up Al Khazeem who came from a similar position to the winner but lacked his class and turn of foot. This was his first try at the trip and in running so well up in grade he must go down as progressive, and we must be careful that his effort isn't insulted as Seville's is questioned.

His jockey did seem to want to hold onto him for as long as possible so perhaps there were some doubts over this longer distance.

The disappointment of the race was Namibian who was one of the first off the bridle. He battled away for a while but, after running up the back of Thimaar, dropped away. He needs a break on this evidence, although he did plug on past Hunter's Light who was eased late on.

Both Hunter's Light and Genius Beast tried to creep into the race turning in and both got fairly close to the lead, but they were quickly heavily under pressure and they had no answers.

Thimaar was eased from an early stage and this was blatantly not his true running.

York 15:40 - Juddmonte International Stakes (British Champions' Series) (Group 1)

Much like the previous race, the pacemaking plan for Windsor Palace looked like it had been drawn in crayon by a child. He went off too quickly, meaning the bulk of the field ignored him, and therefore the race was not run at a strong tempo.

Indeed the winning time was some seven seconds slower than standard, and although the ground looked sticky, it seems to emphasize the modest pace where it mattered. Ultimately this boiled down to a shoot-out between stablemates TWICE OVER and Midday, presumably with Prince Khalid Abdullah skipping for joy.

The owner of both horses has sponsored this race for over 20 years and it was a fine sight to see him present the trophy to his racing manager Lord Grimthorpe, sling et al. Both horses were ridden patiently, happy to track the hot favourite Await The Dawn in the early stages.

With four furlongs to run Tom Queally moved Midday closer to Aidan O'Brien's runner, and actually moved him into second momentarily. This was interesting as she has idled in the past, and one presumed that Queally would hold onto the mare for as long as possible.

As Windsor Palace fell away, the three big guns raced in a line, and it was on the near side that Twice Over took the lead. Await The Dawn was the first to feel the whip, and the response was poor, showing no sign of the turn of foot that had been on display at both Chester and Ascot.

And then there were two.

Midday, with her head marginally in front of Twice Over by this point, ruined her chance by drifting to her left. She went all the way to the far rail, must have lost a length, and in doing so lost the race.

Queally knows that she has a habit of doing this when in-front so presumably the jockey was more scared of Await The Dawn's turn of foot rather than this happening.

A lot of credit must go to Twice Over, for while he had previously won three Group 1s, he was still considered a definite second string here. On the basis of his Duke Of York win that was fair enough, but the six-year-old was a real professional, staying straighter than the winner, and putting his head forward, and sticking it out, when needed most.

He is likely to head for the Champion Stakes at its new Ascot home and the dual winner of the race will certainly be afforded more respect on that occasion. Midday may join him there, although connections will wait and see what the ground is like and also take into consideration a return to the Breeders' Cup.

Whether a trip to Kentucky is on the agenda for Await The Dawn might well be in question now, although one swallow doesn't make a summer. O'Brien suggested that he had left the horse slightly short of fitness with America in mind, but it will be interesting to see the noises coming out of the camp following this run.

All the hype suggested that he could be the next big thing, and he might still be, however all of his wins can have holes picked in the form and he now has something to prove, especially at the top level.

Zafisio, who doesn't appear to have grown much since his excellent days as a juvenile, was held-up but when the big three went on he never looked like hanging onto their coat tails and was a soundly beaten fourth.

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