The Juddmonte International has attracted just four runners for the third time since 1990 but as they say, it only takes two to tango and nobody can argue with the quality of horse that will be on display.
It will be the first time a quartet has gone to post in the Juddmonte since 2009 but we all remember what happened that day, with Sea The Stars beating the Coolmore trio in a tactical affair that resembled something of a cycling peloton contest.
All eyes will be on Paddington as he chases a remarkable fifth-straight Group 1 success on the Knavesmire Wednesday afternoon. It's tough to believe he started out his season by winning a seven-furlong Naas handicap off a mark of 97 on bottomless ground and his rise to the top has been nothing short of outstanding.
The son of Siyouni has been campaigned superbly by Aidan O'Brien thus far, something you'd probably expect from a trainer known as the master from Ballydoyle. That said, one thing you wouldn't have anticipated is the level of progression this supremely talented three-year-old has shown since winning at Naas back in March. Aidan O'Brien's 'unusual' colt began his top-level rampage with a commanding victory in the Irish Guineas at the Curragh in May, before proving the three-year-old Classic form from that side of the sea was the strongest by readily brushing aside Chaldean in the St James's Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
A step up to ten furlongs was on the cards for O'Brien's emerging star in the Coral-Eclipse at Sandown just two and a half weeks later, where he'd meet the comfortable Coronation Cup scorer Emily Upjohn. A first attempt against his elders proved no problem for Paddington as he always had matters under control up the Sandown hill and eventually prevailed by half a length. Dropping back to a mile on soft ground in the Sussex Stakes resulted in the same outcome a month on, with the colt displaying his tactical versatility by running out an all-the-way winner to record a fourth successive Group 1 prize.
O'Brien, who will become the most successful trainer in the fifty-one-year history of the Juddmonte International should Paddington succeed on Wednesday, said: "He's an amazing horse really and all he's done is progress with each race.
"There's nothing much else I can say about him, every time we've asked him a question, he keeps coming up with it.
"Everything has gone well with him since his last run. The ground is fine, and we know he stays the trip.
"He went to the Coral-Eclipse for his first run over a mile and a quarter, so this is a little bit further on a flatter track.
"It will be interesting to see, and we'll take it race by race with him at the moment."
Shadwell landed the contest twelve months ago thanks to the brilliant Baaeed and they look to hold the key danger to Paddington's Group 1-winning run.
Mostahdaf arrives on the Knavesmire having produced a performance of pure quality when routing his rivals by four lengths in the Group 1 Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June. The talented five-year-old showed a sparkling turn of foot when winning a valuable Group 3 in Saudi Arabia back in February before finishing fourth behind Japanese star Equinox in the Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan in March.
The Shadwell-owned runner seemingly enjoys a break between races and co-trainer John Gosden was happy to stress a trip to York was always on the cards following Royal Ascot.
"The plan has always been to come here after Royal Ascot. There's no change in Plan A, it was always to give him the time.
"He benefited from time between Saudi Arabia and running in Dubai through to June and, again, we've taken a similar spacing with him. He's fine," said the Clarehaven-based handler.
Angus Gold, racing manager for Shadwell added: "If I'm honest I was a bit surprised to see him win quite like that, but I probably shouldn't have been after the way he won in Saudi earlier this year. He was very impressive there and really quickened,"
"I thought he ran well in the Sheema Classic at Meydan too, where Equinox just killed him off the bend and he didn't get home, but I was still surprised to see just how well he was travelling against a proper Group 1 field at Royal Ascot, and just how well he quickened.
"I'd probably underestimated him, and it was great to see."
Mostahdaf will be joined by stablemate Nashwa as she bids to become the first filly or mare to land the Juddmonte since Arabian Queen stunned subsequent Arc winner Golden Horn in 2015. It will be a number of firsts for those surrounded by Nashwa as Hollie Doyle, retained jockey for owner Imad Al Sagar, will become the first female to ride in the historic Group 1 race.
Nashwa's twelve races to date have all come against her own sex, and it will be the first time she tackles the colts and geldings. The three-time Group 1-winner travelled kindly before finding conditions and the slow early pace against her in the Nassau Stakes at Glorious Goodwood last time.
"The slow pace didn't really suit her in the Nassau Stakes and the ground was not entirely to her liking. But she's a nice filly and it's important to run in races of this nature," remarked Gosden.
The field of four is rounded out by Dante Stakes winner The Foxes, who looked unlucky not to add a Grade 1 success to his CV when runner-up in the Belmont Derby last month.
The King Power-owned runner is rated 12lb inferior to Paddington, but the owner's racing manager Alastair Donald is looking forward to the challenge.
"The others may be proven at a higher level, but I do feel The Foxes is an improving horse and we haven't seen the best of him yet," said Donald.
"It looks like he'll get his preferred conditions of fast ground and we know he likes the course and distance. It might end up being a trappy race and, you never know, it's worth being there.
"I think if there was a slow pace, which there might be, that would suit us as well, and you have to be excited about taking them on."
In summary, it looks sure to be a cracking renewal despite just the four runners going to post, and market leader Paddington can come out on top once more to put him within one of equalling Sea The Stars' record of six top-level victories in one European season.
