THE highest rated racehorse in the world might not be here, but there's still no doubting the super quality of today's Juddmonte International Stakes at York Racecourse.

Harbinger's career-ending injury on the Newmarket gallops has robbed racing fans of the chance to see him strutting his stuff on Knavesmire, but the richest race ever to be staged at York has still attracted a stellar field.

Aidan O'Brien's Rip Van Winkle heads the betting, but favourites have met their doom on many occasions at York in this race, and we can expect a contest worthy of the £693,500 prize pool.

Rip Van Winkle goes over a mile and a quarter for the first time this season but he did ask Sea The Stars a question over this trip in the Coral Eclipse last year before the wonder horse stamped his class.

His reappearance at last month's Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, when he was pipped by Canford Cliffs, should give O'Brien plenty of confidence.

But, despite dominating Group 1 contests across the globe for more than a decade, the Ballydoyle handler has won York's showpiece event just once, Giant's Causeway in 2000, save for Duke of Marmalade's victory at Newmarket in 2008 when the contest was parachuted in following the abandonment of the Ebor Festival because of rain.

Rip Van Winkle might be the favourite of punters but there are plenty of top class horses waiting to lay down a challenge.

The Prince Khalid Abdullah pair of Byword and Twice Over, who shared a one-two finish in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot in June, form a strong assault from the renowned owner-breeder.

Abdullah runs the Juddmonte Stud which sponsors the International Stakes and, despite having supported the contest for 21 years, he has never won it. You can bet he will be keen to end his two decade drought.

Dick Turpin would be a headline writer's dream if he could snatch the prize, on the site where the notorious highwayman was hanged in the 18th Century.

His connections clearly think he is in with a shout, having paid £50,000 to supplement him into the race.

It's a bold move given Dick Turpin, who has won a Group 1 in France for trainer Richard Hannon, has yet to run over a mile and a quarter.

As for the rest, former jockey turned trainer Edmondo Botti has his first York runner with Jakkalberry – the Group 1 Gran Premio Di Milano victor in Italy - while Cutlass Bay and Cavalryman, represent the Godolphin stable.

Bushman, trained by David Simcock, might find this too much of a challenge and Stimulation should find several too good.

It's an open race, a thrilling contest and worthy of its status as York's flagship event.