Vintage Stoute as sparkling Ulysses makes it super six

It was in April 1972 that Sir Michael Stoute saddled his first winner. Four months later York hosted the first running of what became the Juddmonte International. Now, 45 years later, one of the all-time training greats has won the Knavesmire's most treasured prize more than anyone else after Ulysses reminded us of Stoute's genius and his own brilliance.

This first £1 million running of a contest that in recent years has arguably become Britain's best attracted a field worthy of the money and a spectacle worthy of the field, with the ever-improving, class-oozing Ulysses proving much too good for ace three-year-olds Churchill and Barney Roy as he gave Stoute a sixth International.

Thirty-one summers after Shardari and Walter Swinburn gave Stoute his maiden win in the International, Ulysses underlined there is likely no finer tutor or nurturer of a potential middle-distance marvel than the son of Barbados, whose national flag was flying at York in honour of the man who swapped the Caribbean for a slightly less tropical part of East Anglia.

From his Newmarket base Stoute had also sent dual winner Ezzoud, Singspiel and Notnowcato to claim the International, yet the way in which he has long since talked of Ulysses, once again ridden with confidence and aplomb by Jim Crowley, suggests this Breeders' Cup-bound four-year-old is perhaps considered superior to those stars of the past.

Sheer joy: Sir Michael Stoute celebrates the victory of Ulysses in the Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Edward Whitaker

It was at Goodwood last July that Stoute made absolutely clear he believed Ulysses would be a star of the future. Following the victory of the Niarchos family's colt in the Gordon Stakes, a recognised trial for the St Leger, Stoute made clear there would be no trip to Doncaster. He knew Ulysses could do even bigger and better than the world's oldest Classic. Over these last few weeks that assessment has been shown to be completely correct.

"I think that was his best performance to date," said Stoute in the York winner's enclosure. Few would argue.

As when winning the Coral-Eclipse, Ulysses travelled with supreme ease. In a race staged on ground turned gruelling due to heavy morning rain, Cliffs Of Moher set a sound gallop, but from midway up the home straight a scrap developed between old rivals Barney Roy and Churchill.

They fought a furious battle only to be dealt a knockout blow by Ulysses, who led just inside the final furlong. At Sandown he appeared to idle in front. At York he did not, coming home a decisive two-length victor.

Ulysses enjoys being hosed down after the InternationalCredit: Alan Crowhurst

"One was always hopeful he could be a top-class horse – and he is now," said Stoute, who had most recently seen Ulysses chase home Enable in a muddy King George.

"I would have preferred it if the rain hadn't come today, but the ground wasn't as bad as at Ascot. He bounces off top of the ground because he has such rhythm.

"It all just went so smoothly. There was never a blip and I never had any worries the way he was travelling."

With this victory, Ulysses earned an automatic berth, and fees paid, into the $4 million Longines Breeders' Cup Turf at Del Mar on November 4, and that is the probable target.

"I think it's now time to give him a break," said Stoute. "I know Maria [Niarchos] is keen for him to go for the Breeders' Cup Turf. What we have to do is work backwards from that."

The winning owner had to negotiate York's winner's enclosure on crutches. There was, however, not pain but pleasure on her face, partly because this latest homebred advertisement for sire Galileo has not one but two famous parents, the other being the Niarchos-owned Light Shift, who signalled Sir Henry Cecil's revival when capturing the Oaks a decade ago.

Stoute himself suffered a mini-slump when going through both 2011 and 2012 without a Group 1 success. The glory days are very much back, while for Crowley the glory days are coming thick and fast, this being his third Group 1 win in 47 days.

"The race went absolutely perfect," said Crowley. "I couldn't have asked for it to have gone any better. He's a great ride to pick up. He galloped all the way to the line today. Nothing was going to come back at him."

Jim Crowley is the centre of attention after guiding Ulysses to York gloryCredit: Alan Crowhurst

Nothing did. Given the rate at which he is progressing, it is hard to believe there are many animals who for the rest of this season – and hopefully beyond – will be capable of withstanding his turbo-charged finish.

"It wasn't difficult last year to see he was going to be good," said Stoute as he walked to greet his latest International hero. "He has a hell of a pedigree, he has looks, he has quality and he's some athlete. He's hard to fault."

Such praise begged that Stoute be asked where Ulysses now sits in his own league table of equine marvels.

"I'll tell you at the end of his career," he said before walking off to the sound of a trademark hearty laugh.

It was a statement that seemed to imply this training genius believes there are more stellar days to come from Ulysses. Given the man, and given the horse, it is easy to believe the rest of that career will be well worth watching.

Juddmonte International result and analysis