
‘Fantasy racing' for York with Japanese superstar in Juddmonte International mix
Should he make the journey he may be joined from Japan by Tenno Sho winner Redentor.
🇯🇵 Japan dominating in Dubai
Danon Decile powers to Sheema Classic success @RacingDubai #ダノンデサイル pic.twitter.com/bW6kzKQJBb
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025
York's chief executive William Derby said: 'It's hugely exciting and I'm thrilled that we've got two entries from Japan.
'Obviously I saw him in Dubai when he won the Sheema Classic, he was devastating that night and he's among the top three (rated) turf horses in the world.'
The 10-furlong Group One was again officially the best race in the world last year, when City Of Troy beat Calandagan, and while the winner is now at stud the runner-up could be back for Francis-Henri Graffard who has also entered his hugely exciting three-year-old Daryz.
Field Of Gold for the sponsors, Ombudsman, Lead Artist, Detain and the unexposed Nahraan give John and Thady Gosden an enviable hand.
Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Los Angeles, Lambourn, Minnie Hauk and Whirl are part of Aidan O'Brien's squad.
City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year's Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA)
The 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, Almaqam and Anmaat, all entered for the Eclipse this weekend, are engaged.
Derby went on: 'It's so exciting for our flagship race, that was rated the Longines best race in the world last year, to have such a potential field.
'We hope success breeds success and with prize-money of £1.25million it's put us on a global stage.
'With Field Of Gold and many others in there it looks like the best turf middle-distance horses in the world could be heading our way, at this early stage, admittedly.
'It was great to see Calandagan finally get his Group One at the weekend having run a blinder behind City Of Troy last year, he could be back again, but his stablemate has been mentioned for the race and he looks very exciting.'
All the major races at the Ebor meeting have closed for entries, including a new Group One in the Pattern, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes.
'I'm delighted to see such a strong entry for that,' said Derby.
'There's Lazzat, Inisherin, Quinault, who won on Saturday, and one horse who did catch my eye was The Lion in Winter who would be dropping back in trip.
'The Nunthorpe looks as good as ever and it was so nice to see Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan win at Royal Ascot with American Affair. Having won a handicap at our Dante meeting just in May, it would be some story if he can win the Nunthorpe a few months later.
'The Yorkshire Oaks has all the fillies you would expect like Aidan's Minnie Hauk and Whirl among the three-year-olds and then there's David O'Meara's Estrange who looked exciting at Haydock.
'It's that time when you play fantasy racing. I know they won't all turn up, but we're excited about the prospect of some of them turning up.'
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Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
‘Fantasy racing' for York with Japanese superstar in Juddmonte International mix
Last year's Japanese Derby winner travelled to Dubai as something of an unknown quantity having subsequently finished only sixth in the Japanese St Leger, after which he was a close third in the Arima Kinen and won a Group Two. Relatively unconsidered in the betting for the Sheema Classic, he beat Calandgan by a length and a quarter in the Meydan feature, with Rebel's Romance adding substance to the form in fourth. Should he make the journey he may be joined from Japan by Tenno Sho winner Redentor. 🇯🇵 Japan dominating in Dubai Danon Decile powers to Sheema Classic success @RacingDubai #ダノンデサイル — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025 York's chief executive William Derby said: 'It's hugely exciting and I'm thrilled that we've got two entries from Japan. 'Obviously I saw him in Dubai when he won the Sheema Classic, he was devastating that night and he's among the top three (rated) turf horses in the world.' The 10-furlong Group One was again officially the best race in the world last year, when City Of Troy beat Calandagan, and while the winner is now at stud the runner-up could be back for Francis-Henri Graffard who has also entered his hugely exciting three-year-old Daryz. Field Of Gold for the sponsors, Ombudsman, Lead Artist, Detain and the unexposed Nahraan give John and Thady Gosden an enviable hand. Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Los Angeles, Lambourn, Minnie Hauk and Whirl are part of Aidan O'Brien's squad. City Of Troy beat Calandagan in last year's Juddmonte International (Mike Egerton/PA) The 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, Almaqam and Anmaat, all entered for the Eclipse this weekend, are engaged. Derby went on: 'It's so exciting for our flagship race, that was rated the Longines best race in the world last year, to have such a potential field. 'We hope success breeds success and with prize-money of £1.25million it's put us on a global stage. 'With Field Of Gold and many others in there it looks like the best turf middle-distance horses in the world could be heading our way, at this early stage, admittedly. 'It was great to see Calandagan finally get his Group One at the weekend having run a blinder behind City Of Troy last year, he could be back again, but his stablemate has been mentioned for the race and he looks very exciting.' All the major races at the Ebor meeting have closed for entries, including a new Group One in the Pattern, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes. 'I'm delighted to see such a strong entry for that,' said Derby. 'There's Lazzat, Inisherin, Quinault, who won on Saturday, and one horse who did catch my eye was The Lion in Winter who would be dropping back in trip. 'The Nunthorpe looks as good as ever and it was so nice to see Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan win at Royal Ascot with American Affair. Having won a handicap at our Dante meeting just in May, it would be some story if he can win the Nunthorpe a few months later. 'The Yorkshire Oaks has all the fillies you would expect like Aidan's Minnie Hauk and Whirl among the three-year-olds and then there's David O'Meara's Estrange who looked exciting at Haydock. 'It's that time when you play fantasy racing. I know they won't all turn up, but we're excited about the prospect of some of them turning up.'


North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
‘Fantasy racing' for York with Japanese superstar in Juddmonte International mix
Last year's Japanese Derby winner travelled to Dubai as something of an unknown quantity having subsequently finished only sixth in the Japanese St Leger, after which he was a close third in the Arima Kinen and won a Group Two. Relatively unconsidered in the betting for the Sheema Classic, he beat Calandgan by a length and a quarter in the Meydan feature, with Rebel's Romance adding substance to the form in fourth. Should he make the journey he may be joined from Japan by Tenno Sho winner Redentor. 🇯🇵 Japan dominating in Dubai Danon Decile powers to Sheema Classic success @RacingDubai #ダノンデサイル — Racing TV (@RacingTV) April 5, 2025 York's chief executive William Derby said: 'It's hugely exciting and I'm thrilled that we've got two entries from Japan. 'Obviously I saw him in Dubai when he won the Sheema Classic, he was devastating that night and he's among the top three (rated) turf horses in the world.' The 10-furlong Group One was again officially the best race in the world last year, when City Of Troy beat Calandagan, and while the winner is now at stud the runner-up could be back for Francis-Henri Graffard who has also entered his hugely exciting three-year-old Daryz. Field Of Gold for the sponsors, Ombudsman, Lead Artist, Detain and the unexposed Nahraan give John and Thady Gosden an enviable hand. Camille Pissarro, Henri Matisse, Los Angeles, Lambourn, Minnie Hauk and Whirl are part of Aidan O'Brien's squad. The 2000 Guineas winner Ruling Court, Almaqam and Anmaat, all entered for the Eclipse this weekend, are engaged. Derby went on: 'It's so exciting for our flagship race, that was rated the Longines best race in the world last year, to have such a potential field. 'We hope success breeds success and with prize-money of £1.25million it's put us on a global stage. 'With Field Of Gold and many others in there it looks like the best turf middle-distance horses in the world could be heading our way, at this early stage, admittedly. 'It was great to see Calandagan finally get his Group One at the weekend having run a blinder behind City Of Troy last year, he could be back again, but his stablemate has been mentioned for the race and he looks very exciting.' All the major races at the Ebor meeting have closed for entries, including a new Group One in the Pattern, the Sky Bet City of York Stakes. 'I'm delighted to see such a strong entry for that,' said Derby. 'There's Lazzat, Inisherin, Quinault, who won on Saturday, and one horse who did catch my eye was The Lion in Winter who would be dropping back in trip. 'The Nunthorpe looks as good as ever and it was so nice to see Jim Goldie and Paul Mulrennan win at Royal Ascot with American Affair. Having won a handicap at our Dante meeting just in May, it would be some story if he can win the Nunthorpe a few months later. 'The Yorkshire Oaks has all the fillies you would expect like Aidan's Minnie Hauk and Whirl among the three-year-olds and then there's David O'Meara's Estrange who looked exciting at Haydock. 'It's that time when you play fantasy racing. I know they won't all turn up, but we're excited about the prospect of some of them turning up.'


North Wales Chronicle
2 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Buick expected to maintain Ombudsman partnership in the Eclipse
Speaking on a media Zoom call, joint-trainer Thady Gosden confirmed Buick is set to take the ride on the four-year-old, who was a brilliant winner of the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot. And confidence is high in the camp that he can follow up in the traditional first clash of the generations, albeit respectful of the fact the gap between the Royal meeting and the Eclipse is a relatively short one. One week on… Ombudsman scaled new heights with a jaw-dropping display in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal @Ascot! How much higher can the son of Night Of Thunder go? — At The Races (@AtTheRaces) June 25, 2025 'We've had some nice horses from the yard run in it over the years. It's a fantastic race and it's a big thanks to Coral for 50 years of sponsorship, it's pretty amazing,' said Gosden, who trains alongside his father, John, a four-time Eclipse winner. 'Obviously it is a very tight turnaround, we'd rather have given him longer, especially when they are running in solid Group One races. But he's in very good order, he'd only had the one run before Ascot at Sandown in the Brigadier Gerard when he was second to Almaqam. 'He hasn't had a hard season, he hasn't had a hard career so far really, so we thought why not get him ready for this. 'The Prince of Wales's was a very tough race against plenty of hard-knocking Group One horses and he was still relatively inexperienced, it was his first run in a Group One.' The turn of foot on display at Ascot means Ombudsman has been all the rage for this, so much so that any thoughts to run his stablemate Field Of Gold in the race were immediately shelved after he was also successful at Ascot, in his case over a mile in the St James's Palace Stakes. 'They both ran huge races at Ascot,' said Gosden. 'Field Of Gold was particularly impressive, just the natural speed he has, and the raw speed he showed there, why rush into a mile and a quarter when you know he's got the class over a mile that he's shown. 'It's the first meeting of the generations. The three-year-olds look very good, you've got a French Derby winner in there (Camille Pissarro), some serious three-year-olds. 'We've got Field Of Gold among that generation, but obviously they've been running over different trips, his form does tie in with Ruling Court. They look a very solid bunch. 'Of course you've got Sosie who is probably the best 10/12-furlong horse in France coming over as well. We finished second to him in the Prix d'Ispahan with Sardinian Warrior and he won the Ganay the time before that. 'All these horses have a very good turn of foot, but he's got plenty of speed, he's always had it, he's improved every start and he stays a mile and a quarter well. 'He's meeting a few of the same rivals again, but now there's the three-year-olds with a weight advantage and Sosie looks a serious horse, so he might have to improve again.'