IT’s time for the older horses to put their credentials on the line and tonight’s Grade 1 Whitney Stakes (10.41 Sky Sport Racing) does just that.

Sierra Leone emerged as the top three-year-old last season with his win in the Breeders’ Cup Classic but Fierceness also had an earlier win over him in the Jim Dandy and Travers here last year.

Repole Stable are expected not to run the other leading contender Mindframe.

White Abarrio is now six but was dominant again in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes and could have found the Met Mile too short.

Sierra Leone has Contrary Thinking to serve as a pacemaker and Mama’s Gold is also a front runner.

While it should suit Sierra Leone, Fierceness should also be able to sit closer and strike first.

He’s won three of his four starts over this track, including the 2024 Travers.

He sat close to the pace when second in the Breeders’ Cup Classic and on the head to head meetings he should emerge on top again.

SELECTION: Fierceness

Earlier on the card at 9.28 the Grade 1 Saratoga Derby Invitational Stakes has Irish interest as Jessica Harrington sends Hotazhell (Shane Foley) over to contest the mile, two and a half-furlong contest along with Amo Racing’s, Adrian Murray-trained Tiberius Thunder (Frankie Dettori) in the nine-horse field. It also includes the former Andrew Balding-trained New Century.

Hotazhell was last seen finishing fifth of six, beaten three and three-quarter lengths, to Delacroix in the Eclipse, which gives him a chance here.

The Graham Motion-trained Test Score won the Belmont Derby, from today’s rivals World Beater (second), with New Century back in fifth and Final Gambit sixth, and the Lookin At Lucky colt looked pretty good that day.