Racing: Golan the reluctant hero can keep Nayef in his place

York Ebor meeting: In the opening-day rematch of the King George principals the workshy winner looks capable of confirming superiority

As the Bard put it, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. And John Magnier, the man behind the finest collection of stallions in the world, is not about to disagree. There may not be an overt future member of his Clan Coolmore among the seven runners for today's 31st International at York, but he is there nonetheless. Magnier and his partners acquired control of Golan last year, with a view to retiring him to stud in Co Tipperary in the spring, and it was only the insistence of the colt's late owner-breeder Lord Weinstock, in whose pale blue colours he still runs, that ensured he stayed in training at four.

That perspicacity has already been rewarded with a battling defeat of Nayef in last month's King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Victory today would complete a mouthwatering portfolio to lay before breeders: a Group One winner over a mile (last year's 2,000 Guineas), 10 furlongs and a mile and a half. And despite the quality of his exploits as a three-year-old – he was also second in the Derby and fourth in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe – he was weak physically and is markedly more mature this term. Last month's Ascot race was his seasonal debut and, although he is not one to over-exert himself at home (it's a wonder he has any ears left; his riders have to rub them off to get him out of the yard let alone into top gear on the gallops) he seems to have progressed since then.

With most of the Coolmore regulars nursing 'flu at home at Ballydoyle, the token Aidan O'Brien presence in today's field is the filly Starbourne, singled out for cannon fodder in her role as Golan's pacemaker.

O'Brien will rue this missed opportunity to maintain his high profile on the Knavesmire – he took the Great Voltigeur and Nunthorpe Stakes last year with Milan and Mozart, the International in 2000 with Giant's Causeway and the Gimcrack and Nunthorpe in 1999 with Mull Of Kintyre and Stravinsky – but his rivals will not.

Particularly Golan's trainer Sir Michael Stoute, who has a tremendous hand this week. O'Brien is £1m clear of him in the race for the trainers' championship but the first prize in the International would not only reduce that deficit by a quarter but also take the Newmarket maestro past Mark Johnston into second place pro tem.

The noises coming from the Nayef camp have been beguilingly bullish, and on the Ascot evidence there is little between the two fine colts. Golan (2.55), though, can confirm his superiority over Nayef and become the 25th at this level in Weinstock family silks. And though it can be folly to consider any race with more than two runners merely a match, it is difficult to make a case for the remainder. The step up in distance will have to bring about improvement in the otherwise exposed Noverre, the only other Group One winner among them, for him to get involved.

Tails at Kingwood House, Nayef's home, went up on Saturday when his stablemate and galloping companion Mubtaker won the Geoffrey Freer Stakes. It is a shame that the Freemason Lodge crew will not get confirmation of their star's wellbeing before today's main event, but then his regular workmate RESEARCHED (nap 4.00) does not turn out until an hour afterwards.

The meeting's best St Leger trial may come in tomorrow's Yorkshire Oaks, in which Godolphin's dual Classic winner Kazzia takes on Golan's comrade in arms Islington in another of the perceived showdowns of the week. Before that, in the Great Voltigeur Stakes, the colts strut their stuff. The race, which (adjectivally and nominally) commemorates a 19th century local hero, Lord Zetland's 1847 2,000 Derby and St Leger winner, was founded in 1950 as an eliminator for the final Classic, a function which it has fulfilled admirably. In the last decade it has pinpointed four St Leger winners, most recently Milan 12 months ago. This afternoon Bandari (3.30) can continue his progress to Town Moor.