Declaration Of War produced a scintillating gallop to give trainer Aidan O’Brien his fourth success in the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes on day one of the Ebor Festival at York. The race looked to be a match between Al Kazeem, the winner of Tattersalls Cup, Prince of Wales Stakes and Coral Eclipse and Toronado, the champion at the Sussex Stakes. Al Kazeem went into the race as the favourite at 11-8 while Toronado was well supported at 9-4. The Queen Anne Stakes winner Declaration was sent in at a liberal 7-1.  

The Irish Derby winner Trading Leather set the pace, tracked closely by Al Kazeem. Declaration Of War followed the pair in third till the last 3 furlongs. Approaching the long straight at York, jockey Kevin Manning on Trading Leather urged his mount to step up the pace and the 3 year old did move well. Al Kazeem was also in hot pursuit and Declaration Of War on their heels. Jockey Joseph O’Brien made his final effort on Declaration Of War and the son of War Front galloped resolutely to sweep past the duo in front. Trading Leather was the runner-up while Al Kazeem finished third. Toronado was an utter disappointment, finishing last after trailing all the way.

"He’s an amazing horse with an unbelievable constitution, and very much like Giant’s Causeway, in that he’s a big powerful strong traveler," said trainer Aidan O’Brien, who is winning this celebrated race for the fourth time. "We’ve never had one like him--every day in his work he has been getting better and racing is improving him. Physically, he looks like a horse getting ready to have his first run."

"He ran a massive race and I’m not sure it was as much of a surprise to us as it was for most people," was what the jockey Joseph O’Brien had to say after the win.