RACING/York reportsFalbrav trounced his rivals in a superb renewal of the £460,000 Juddmonte International Stakes at York yesterday.
Darryll Holland sent the Luca Cumani-trained five-year-old into the lead with two of the 10 furlongs left to travel, after which the result was never in doubt as he strode clear of Magistretti to score at 5 to 2.
Izdiham made the early running at a strong pace tracked by stable companion Nayef, with Falbrav on his tail. Nayef went on fully three furlongs out, but Holland followed last year's winner through and producing a devastating burst of speed, Falbrav soon settled the issue, landing the £266,800 first prize by two lengths.
Nayef finished third, a further one and three-quarter lengths away, with the Aidan O'Brien-trained Mingun fourth.
Cumani only started training Falbrav at the beginning of this season and he said: "It was quite simple for him. He is a wonderful horse and I'm so delighted to have been sent a horse of this calibre.
"He has never let me down. At Ascot (in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes) the ground was too soft for him, and today he's shown me once again what he is capable of.
"He must rate as one of the very best horses around."
Falbrav, who was trained in Italy last year, when his victories included the Japan Cup, had already won the Prix d'Ispahan and Coral-Eclipse Stakes at the highest level this term.
Explaining why he made his winning move so early, Holland said: "I saw Nayef in front of me and he wasn't really going anywhere and the way I was travelling I just thought 'let's get the job done'. I just sent him about his business and he did it very professionally.
"He's won very nice today and the way he's picked up and the way he just idled at photographers at the winning line, I just knew I had more in the locker."
Neville Callaghan was delighted with Magistretti's effort: "That was a good run. We are very pleased. He has confirmed his good rating today and all the doubters can't say much now.
"He's finished for the year as he's had a hard race today, but he trains on next year and we'll see how he improves between three and four."
In contrast, Marcus Tregoning was disappointed with Nayef's third. "He's had some hard races this year. We'll have to get him home and see where he goes from there."
Big disappointment of the race was Kalaman, who went off the 15 to 8 market leader and held every chance before dropping away to be last of the eight runners.
Tony McCoy is poised to return to action later this week having been on the sidelines since he suffered a broken right arm at Worcester on June 18th.
He already has two rides booked back at Worcester on Saturday evening and he may be in action the previous day at Fontwell Park.
The champion jump jockey has been riding out after undergoing a total of five operations on the arm damaged when his mount Kymberlya slipped on the final bend of the Rose Hill School Handicap Hurdle.
"I've been doing plenty of exercise. That's all you can do really but it's pretty boring so I'm looking forward to Saturday." he said. "I might even be back on Friday - I'm not sure. I might come back for one ride at Fontwell.
In his absence his great rival and friend Richard Johnson has gained an 18-winner lead (54-36) in the title race.
