Toronado will race in Wednesday’s Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York, trainer Richard Hannon has confirmed.
Toronado will run over a mile and quarter for the first time and is set to go up against Al Kazeem, who heads the quintet looking to upset the formbook.
“It’s all systems go for Toronado. The plan is to run as long as there is not heavy rain,” Hannon revealed on his website.
Meanwhile, Roger Charlton says he could not be happier with the form of Al Kazeem, who has picked up victories in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, Prince of Wales’s Stakes and Coral-Eclipse this season.
“I’ve been delighted with Al Kazeem. He looks great and his work has been great.
“This is a different challenge for him – he is taking on the best miler in Europe (Toronado) – on a new track at York.
“He is also bidding to become the first horse to win the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Eclipse and Juddmonte International in the same season, it’s not going to be easy but he owes us nothing.
“I would be happier if the ground was good, good to soft in places rather than good, good to firm but he has won on fast ground three times this season – he handles it but I feel he is a better horse on softer ground.”
Irish Derby winner Trading Leather, Hillstar, Declaration Of War and Rewarded make up the sextet.
Link Dafabet