Foreign Hopes Hunt International Glory

Italian ace Electrocutionist and Japanese Horse Of The Year Zenno Rob Roy dominate the market for the Juddmonte International Stakes on the opening day of York´s Ebor Festival.

The pair form part of a small but select field of seven that will go to post for the £460,000 Group One showpiece, with the foreign raiders both quoted at 100-30 with Ladbrokes to taste success on British soil.

Lightly-raced Electrocutionist has been based at Luca Cumani´s Newmarket yard and made the journey to York after completing his preparation for the 10-furlong event,

The five-year-old cantered before leaving for Yorkshire and trainer Valfredo Valiani could not be happier.

'He is very well and left Newmarket for York today. He did a steady ordinary canter on Saturday and another one this morning,' he said.

The Pisa-based handler revealed he will leave the big-race tactics to his rider Mick Kinane.

'I understand that New Morning may go for the lead early with the Japanese horse close up,' Valiani went on.

'We may just sit in behind and wait, although I will leave Mick Kinane free to do what he feels to be right. He´s a much better jockey than me.

'He knows how to ride York and he has partnered our horse at work.'

Electrocutionist´s latest success came in the Group One Gran Premio di Milano at San Siro in June.

Zenno Rob Roy, trained by Kazuo Fujisawa, bids to become only the second Japanese winner of a British Group One after 2000 July Cup winner Agnes World.

The five-year-old has only had the one run this season when third in a Grade One event in Hanshin, but the eyes of his nation will be transfixed on his every move.

'It would be very good for Japanese racing if he were to win tomorrow - there´s plenty of interest surrounding him,' said Nobutaka Tada, who is representing the horse´s connections.

'He is very well and had his last workout at Newmarket on Saturday. There is no doubting his condition.'

Zenno Rob Roy, who has been lodging at Geoff Wragg´s stables, may have one more race in Europe before returning home in a bid to capture the Japan Cup for the second year running.

'We have the option of the Irish Champion Stakes before taking him home, but that all depends on tomorrow´s race.' added Tada.

Kerrin McEvoy will partner Godolphin´s Doyen, who showed more of his old sparkle at Newbury last month, but the Australian jockey is fearful of the international challenge.

He told Racing UK: 'I think the two overseas horses are going to be mighty hard to beat.

'Zeno Rob Roy is probably the main one, and I haven´t seen much of the other horse, but it is going to be a great race.'

Doyen hammered the field in last year´s King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes but has been out of luck on his five starts since, although he ran with more zest when sixth in this year´s King George.

'He is doing well and I think he has improved a bit since he last run. He looks well physically,' McEvoy continued.

'It has been well documented he has been well below par this year compared to his high standards last year and we are going in hopeful of a nice run.

'He is not a difficult horse to ride, he is a lovely horse to ride and it could be a case that he has just lost a little bit of interest.

'It is hard to keep those horses at the top of their game, like he was last season, but if we can get him back sparkling he is going to run well.'

Sheikh Mohammed´s operation, fresh from Dubawi´s brilliant victory in the Prix Jacques le Marois on Sunday, have already won the 10-furlong showpiece with Halling (1995-96), Sakhee (2001) and Sulamani (2004).

Trainer Saeed bin Suroor told www.godolphin.com: 'Doyen has been disappointing this year and at the end of last season, but he came back from the King George in good form and he is training very well so I am happy with him.'

Norse Dancer ran Sulamani to three-quarters of a length 12 months ago and will to try and go one better as he bids to end his Group One hoodoo.

John Egan was in the saddle that day and he has struck up a successful partnership with David Elsworth´s five-year-old.

Having made a successful seasonal bow at Newmarket, Norse Dancer bounced back from a disappointing effort at Royal Ascot at York to finish a 50-1 second to Azamour in the King George.

'I wish he was one of the outsiders tomorrow because every time they write him off he bounces right back,' said Egan.

'He seems as well as ever and deserves to win at the highest level, having run well in last year´s Juddmonte.

'With only a few runners it´s sure to be tactical and I shall put together my own strategy for the race - but I´ll keep it to myself.'

Maraahel scored over the distance on his seasonal bow at Chester and has only raced once since, finishing runner-up to Bandari in the Hardwicke Stakes at the Royal meeting.

Doyen was back in fifth that day, one place behind subsequent Arlington Million winner Powerscourt, whose trainer Aidan O´Brien will be represented by Prince Of Wales´s runner-up and King George fifth Ace.

Brigadier Gerard winner New Morning completes the field for trainer Michael Jarvis.

Juddmonte International betting:

Ladbrokes: 10-3 Electrocutionist, Zenno Rob Roy, 3-1 Ace, 9-2 Norse Dancer, 11-2 Maraahel, 14-1 Doyen, 33-1 New Morning.

William Hill: 3-1 Electrocutionist, 7-2 Ace, Zenno Rob Roy, 11-2 Maraahel, Norse Dancer, 11-1 Doyen, 20-1 New Morning.

(C) PA Sport