Eclipse Principals Delacroix and Ombudsman Confirmed for York Rematch

[Wandering Eyes]

Delacroix (Dubawi) and Ombudsman (Night Of Thunder), first and second, respectively, in last month's G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown, headline nine confirmations for Wednesday's G1 Juddmonte International at York.

The Aidan O'Brien-trained Delacroix is one of three possible runners from Ballydoyle, along with dual Derby hero Lambourn (Australia) – who also holds an entry in the G2 Sky Bet Great Voltigeur Stakes earlier on the card – and high-class filly Whirl (Wootton Bassett), the winner of the G1 Pretty Polly Stakes and G1 Nassau Stakes.

Meanwhile, G1 Prince Of Wales's Stakes winner Ombudsman is set to be joined by another Godolphin-owned runner in the Andre Fabre-trained Birr Castle (Cloth Of Stars), who has been supplemented at a cost of £85,000 to fulfil pacemaking duties for the leading fancy from the Gosden stable.

Last year's G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby) scorer Danon Decile (Epiphaneia) adds plenty of intrigue as a rare runner from the Far East, making his first appearance since also winning March's G1 Dubai Sheema Classic at Meydan, while last year's G1 Champion Stakes hero Anmaat (Awtaad) and dual York winner See The Fire (Sea The Stars) also feature in a strong contingent of older horses.

The potential line-up is completed by the unbeaten three-year-old colt Daryz (Sea The Stars), who is set to make the journey over from France after impressing his connections in a gallop on Thursday morning.

“I've spoken to the trainer [Francis-Henri Graffard] and jockey, because Mickael Barzalona rode him, and they were very happy with his piece of work,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs.

“He'd taken a step forward from his piece of work last week and they were very happy with his condition. He worked with Sibayan and Surabad, a Group 2 winner and Group 3-placed, so good horses. After that the plan is now to run at York, if everything goes fine.”

Daryz will be running in a Group 1 for the first time on the Knavesmire, but he proved himself a potentially top-class colt when last seen winning the G2 Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud in good style.

Routh added, “We were very impressed last time, 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 2, so you feel it makes sense to run in a Group 1 and this came up at the right time.

“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.”

The post Eclipse Principals Delacroix and Ombudsman Confirmed for York Rematch appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

View the full article