Rip Van Winkle wins the Juddmonte International Stakes at York

A three-horse drive to the wire in the Group 1 Juddmonte International Stakes between Rip Van Winkle, Twice Over, and Byword, saw the favorite prevail by a long head.  

Twice Over and Byword engaged in a stretch duel quite early in the final furlongs and I think if either jockey could run the race over again they might have elected to wait a bit longer before asking their mount to go all out.  With those two at running neck-and-neck in the early part of the stretch, Rip Van Winkle commenced a long, grinding run along the rail and got up to pass the two leaders inside the final furlong.  

Result (Chart):

1st: Rip Van Winkle
2nd: Twice Over
3rd: Byword