Champion Aim For International Hero

Notnowcato is set to head for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket after giving Ryan Moore his first taste of Group One success in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York.

The champion jockey-elect is streets clear in the riders' championship and added to a memorable 2006 when seeing off the determined challenge of stablemate Maraahel by a short head in the £500,000 feature.

Moore set his mount alight two furlongs out but was joined inside the distance by Richard Hills on Maraahel (9-1) and the pair battled hammer and tongs to the line.

The Sir Michael Stoute-trained duo pulled three lengths clear of Blue Monday, who had Irish Derby winner and 5-6 favourite Dylan Thomas three-quarters of a length back in fourth.

Moore said: 'It's a relief to win a race like this. I have gone close in Group Ones before, like in the Nunthorpe, and I have wanted to win one.

'I thought I'd held on as we crossed the line but Richard thought he'd got up.'

Stoute last landed the International in 1997 with Singspiel in 1997, and he said: 'Watching it wasn't too bad as I knew it was going to be one of them so it was quite enjoyable for a change!

'Maraahel ran a tremendous race and I thought he had actually got up when I watched the race live, but I wasn't so sure watching the replay.'

The Emirates Airline-sponsored showpiece on October 14 was nominated as the next point of call for the winner, who had finished runner-up in the Coral-Eclipse on his previous start.

'It was always the aim to come here with Notnowcato after the Eclipse and we will have to go for anther Group One now,' explained Stoute.

'He will probably go for the Champion Stakes at Newmarket next and then hopefully finish with a race overseas if everything goes to plan, with the Hong Kong Cup a likely option.'

Hills was on board Maraahel 12 months ago when he took third in the same race, and the jockey said: 'I thought I'd just got it on the line but the result went the wrong way.'

Roger Charlton was full of praise for Eclipse third Blue Monday, adding: 'I'm delighted, he's run a fantastic race.

'I'm not sure where he will go next but there's plenty of options for him.

'He's a much-improved horse and he does try very hard.'

Dylan Thomas had run free in the early stages and was in trouble some way from home under Mick Kinane.

To his credit, Aidan O'Brien's charge did stay on with a second wind inside the last couple of furlongs but it was to no avail and the market leader continued the dire record of three-year-olds in the race.

Only Giant's Causeway has struck a blow for the Classic generation in the last decade, and O'Brien felt circumstances might have played against Dylan Thomas.

He said: 'It was a very slow pace and he was very fresh early on.

'He's a good-moving horse but we will just take him home and see how he is, then decide where to go from there.'

? PA Sport