The regally-bred son of Sea The Stars impressively enhanced his unbeaten record in Saint-Cloud’s Prix Eugene Adam, with trainer Francis-Henri Graffard said to be “quite interested” on another York raid, having seen Calandagan chase home City Of Troy 12 months ago in a race since officially recognised as the best in the world.
“We’re slightly scratching our heads with Daryz and we would need to sit down with Princess Zahra as well as there are several options we can take with the horse,” said Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France.
“I know Francis is quite interested in the idea of bringing him to the Juddmonte International and he’s obviously done very well over that trip and we’ve only ever run him him over a mile and a quarter, so it is the right trip for him.
“It would be a big ask as Sunday was only his fourth start, but he’s an improving horse and we’re really excited by him, he’s bred in the purple and a proper horse.”
Daryz entered the Arc picture after claiming the scalp of George Scott’s Bay City Roller at Saint-Cloud, with some firms going as short as 12-1 for Europe’s richest middle-distance prize.
And that race is firmly in connections’ thoughts as they also consider a long-established stepping stone closer to home ahead of the ParisLongchamp feature on October 5.
Routh added: “We have an eye on the Arc at the end of the year, but he needs to run before that and there’s several different races he could run in. He could have a traditional prep for the Arc in the Prix Niel or he could take in something like York.
“We’ll have to weigh everything up with him as he is still a little immature, but he’s improved with every race and York is definitely an option. We will just have to see what is the right option as we haven’t quite figured that out.”
With King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes-bound Calandagan also entered, Routh continued: “We would be very happy to have a runner in the race, we’re just not quite sure at this stage if it will be Daryz.
“It will come down to what the trainer thinks and what the owner thinks, but we wanted to have both Calandagan and Daryz entered for York to give us the option. We had a great time with Calandagan there last year and it’s a great track and the Juddmonte International a great race.”
