Daryz handed International mission at York

Daryz is on course for next week’s Juddmonte International at York after satisfying connections in a gallop on Thursday morning.

The Sea The Stars colt is in unbeaten in four races this term having been unraced at two last year and as a Group Two winner last time out, his team feel the timing is right for him to step into the best company.

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.”