Daryz handed International mission at York
Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs, confirmed that Daryz sufficiently impressed trainer Francis-Henri Graffard and is set to run on Wednesday.
'I've spoken to the trainer and jockey because Mickael Barzalona rode him and they were very happy with his piece of work. He'd taken a step forward from his piece of work last week and they were very happy with his condition,' said Routh.
'He worked with Sibayan and Surabad, a Group Two winner and Group Three placed so good horses, and after it the plan is now to run at York if everything goes fine.
'It's obviously a big ask from what he has been doing so far. The field is a strong one and we're under no illusions it's going to be a very tough race, but Francis took the view that the horse is in great form, it will be fast ground which he handles well and we've always rated him, so we'll see how good he is next week.'
Daryz has yet to venture further than ParisLongchamp and Saint-Cloud and Routh admits travelling for the first time to potentially take on the likes of Eclipse victor Delacroix and Japanese runner Danon Decile presents a real test.
'Francis just wanted to see that the horse was on good terms with himself, which he showed us this morning, but the question mark with him is he has been learning on the job, he's still a bit immature,' said Routh.
'It's going to be a lot for him to travel for the first time, see everything new and then come up against such a top-class field as well. That's the caveat with him.
'We were very impressed last time though, in a race which wasn't run to suit him. He pulled too hard as they were crawling but then he really picked up. That was a Group Two so you feel it makes sense to run in a Group One and this came up at the right time.'
A total of nine horses have been confirmed, with Aidan O'Brien responsible for Delacroix, dual Derby hero Lambourn, who also has the Great Voltiguer as an option, and the top-class filly Whirl.
John and Thady Gosden's Prince of Wales's scorer Ombudsman will have the benefit of a pacemaker in the supplemented Birr Castle, with See The Fire and Anmaat also left in.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
4 hours ago
- Leader Live
Pinhole aiming to justify connections' faith in Geoffrey Freer
The Frankel colt looked an exciting prospect when winning at Southwell at the backend of his juvenile year, but any dreams of Epsom were put to bed after he finished a well-held fourth behind the subsequent dual Derby winner Lambourn on his return in the Chester Vase. He disappointed as a joint-favourite for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot on his next start, but made the most of having his sights lowered when bolting up in first-time cheek pieces on his handicap debut three weeks ago, earning him a return to Group Three level at Newbury on Saturday. PINHOLE wins comfortably in the Royal Ascot Winning Breeders' Handicap Stakes with @Rossaryan15 in the saddle for @RalphBeckett and @JuddmonteFarms — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) July 25, 2025 Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: 'He was obviously an easy winner the last day and the handicapper has forced our hand to head back into Group company, so we're looking forward to seeing what he can do. 'He's a horse we always felt was up to this sort of level, hopefully it's not coming too soon for him. 'He's a big horse and probably still a little on the weak side. We started out with Derby ambitions and the form of the Chester Vase has obviously worked out very well, but the Derby was coming too early in his life. Let's hope we can get back on track at Group-race level.' Pinhole's five rivals include the William Haggas-trained Candleford, who was last seen finishing third behind high-class stablemate Al Aasy in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and Ambiente Friendly, who was one place and just under two lengths adrift of Candleford two weeks ago. His trainer James Owen said: 'He worked nicely on Tuesday morning and he's taken a step forward from Goodwood, so I think gelding him is definitely helping. 'It's small steps but I feel I'm getting him back into form. I think if you watch his races, even at Goodwood, in the last 15 yards he's beginning to stay on again and I just think he needs to give himself chance to get these longer trips, then I do think he will stay well. 'He's getting better at home and he's improved the last twice on the track. Sean D Bowen did a great job with him the last day and rode him very well and I think that was the most settled he has been for a long time.' The Haggas-trained More Thunder is the potential star attraction in other Group race on the card – the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes. The four-year-old has won three of his four starts since moving across Newmarket after Sir Michael Stoute's retirement and he is perhaps unlucky not to be unbeaten, having just failed to reel in Get It in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He bounced back to winning ways in Newmarket's Bunbury Cup last month and now gets the chance to showcase his talent at Group Two level. Haggas told Sky Sports Racing 'It was a bit messy at Newmarket, but he's absolutely fine and it's time he had a step up in grade. 'He's a pretty smart horse, he's done really well. He's got about the lowest rating of any of the runners on Saturday and yet he's favourite, I don't quite understand that, but some people think that he has the potential to do a bit better, so we'll see if they're right.' Witness Stand takes the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races | @HollieDoyle1 | @UrloxheyStables — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2025 The highest-rated runner is Witness Stand, who bids for back-to-back Group Two wins for the training partnership of Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole following his surprise Lennox Stakes success. Insole said: 'We obviously have to carry a penalty now, but he's come out of the race at Goodwood well. He did a nice breeze on Wednesday and we're really happy with him. 'He's already a Group Two winner now, so we just hope he turns up and puts in another brave run to do us all proud.'
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Pinhole aiming to justify connections' faith in Geoffrey Freer
The Frankel colt looked an exciting prospect when winning at Southwell at the backend of his juvenile year, but any dreams of Epsom were put to bed after he finished a well-held fourth behind the subsequent dual Derby winner Lambourn on his return in the Chester Vase. He disappointed as a joint-favourite for the Queen's Vase at Royal Ascot on his next start, but made the most of having his sights lowered when bolting up in first-time cheek pieces on his handicap debut three weeks ago, earning him a return to Group Three level at Newbury on Saturday. PINHOLE wins comfortably in the Royal Ascot Winning Breeders' Handicap Stakes with @Rossaryan15 in the saddle for @RalphBeckett and @JuddmonteFarms — Ascot Racecourse (@Ascot) July 25, 2025 Barry Mahon, racing manager for owner-breeders Juddmonte, said: 'He was obviously an easy winner the last day and the handicapper has forced our hand to head back into Group company, so we're looking forward to seeing what he can do. 'He's a horse we always felt was up to this sort of level, hopefully it's not coming too soon for him. 'He's a big horse and probably still a little on the weak side. We started out with Derby ambitions and the form of the Chester Vase has obviously worked out very well, but the Derby was coming too early in his life. Let's hope we can get back on track at Group-race level.' Pinhole's five rivals include the William Haggas-trained Candleford, who was last seen finishing third behind high-class stablemate Al Aasy in the Glorious Stakes at Goodwood and Ambiente Friendly, who was one place and just under two lengths adrift of Candleford two weeks ago. His trainer James Owen said: 'He worked nicely on Tuesday morning and he's taken a step forward from Goodwood, so I think gelding him is definitely helping. 'It's small steps but I feel I'm getting him back into form. I think if you watch his races, even at Goodwood, in the last 15 yards he's beginning to stay on again and I just think he needs to give himself chance to get these longer trips, then I do think he will stay well. 'He's getting better at home and he's improved the last twice on the track. Sean D Bowen did a great job with him the last day and rode him very well and I think that was the most settled he has been for a long time.' The Haggas-trained More Thunder is the potential star attraction in other Group race on the card – the Visit Malta Hungerford Stakes. The four-year-old has won three of his four starts since moving across Newmarket after Sir Michael Stoute's retirement and he is perhaps unlucky not to be unbeaten, having just failed to reel in Get It in the Wokingham Stakes at Royal Ascot. He bounced back to winning ways in Newmarket's Bunbury Cup last month and now gets the chance to showcase his talent at Group Two level. Haggas told Sky Sports Racing 'It was a bit messy at Newmarket, but he's absolutely fine and it's time he had a step up in grade. 'He's a pretty smart horse, he's done really well. He's got about the lowest rating of any of the runners on Saturday and yet he's favourite, I don't quite understand that, but some people think that he has the potential to do a bit better, so we'll see if they're right.' Witness Stand takes the HKJC World Pool Lennox Stakes 🥇#ITVRacing | @Goodwood_Races | @HollieDoyle1 | @UrloxheyStables — ITV Racing (@itvracing) July 29, 2025 The highest-rated runner is Witness Stand, who bids for back-to-back Group Two wins for the training partnership of Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole following his surprise Lennox Stakes success. Insole said: 'We obviously have to carry a penalty now, but he's come out of the race at Goodwood well. He did a nice breeze on Wednesday and we're really happy with him. 'He's already a Group Two winner now, so we just hope he turns up and puts in another brave run to do us all proud.'
Rhyl Journal
10 hours ago
- Rhyl Journal
Royal Whip run could determine Zahraan plans
Impressive when climbing the ladder earlier in the season, Johnny Murtagh's talented colt lost little in defeat when narrowly failing to reel in Amiloc at Royal Ascot and with Group One entries having been made for later in the season, he faces another examination of his potential as he takes on star older horse Los Angeles in this red-hot Group Three event. Murtagh said: 'Everything has gone smoothly since Ascot. He ran great in the King Edward VII Stakes and he came out of it well. We gave him plenty of time to get over it and we're looking forward now to going to the Curragh. 'It's a tough looking race but it will tell us where we're going for the rest of the season. We hope it goes well at the weekend and we will get that out of the way first then make a plan.' The Aidan O'Brien-trained Los Angeles heads the market for the 10-furlong contest, but he is on a retrieval mission after disappointing when a well-beaten favourite in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting. The proven quality in the line-up, last year's Irish Derby winner is unbeaten at this venue and connections will be hoping the return to Kildare proves inspirational in this stopping point en-route to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. O'Brien also looks to hold a strong hand in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial, where Puppet Master has been tasked with enhancing the handler's fine record in the race. Willie Mullins will saddle the consistent Absurde in opposition, while Dallas Star will bid to continue Adrian Murray's dream run at the Curragh after last weekend's big-race double. Murray said: 'He will be going with a chance. He's a good horse without being probably a top-draw horse, but a race like this should suit him. 'He got within a couple of lengths of Kyprios earlier in the season and it takes a good horse to do that and I do think he will run a big race. 'He's probably a little bit short of being that top, top horse, but you'd like to think he can be competitive and I think this trip will be key to him and his forte down the road. I guess we'll know more after the race on Saturday evening.' Murray also has strong claims in the Listed Mitsubishi Electric Curragh Irish EBF Curragh Stakes with Ipanema Queen, who impressed over a furlong extra here on debut. Although struggling to make an impression in what has proven a strong renewal of the Albany Stakes, the daughter of Sands Of Mali bumped into an above-average type when second to Havana Anna in the Marwell Stakes at Naas and is fancied to hit the frame in her second outing at five furlongs. Murray added: 'I expect her to run a nice race, the horses are all very well in themselves and I couldn't be happier with how they are going. 'She's a course winner and when you've won there it's a plus. We're happy to let her take her chance and she's in great form.'
