Thursday gallop to determine plans for Daryz

Unbeaten French colt Daryz faces a crucial workout on Thursday as connections ponder whether to take on the challenge of next week’s Juddmonte International at York.

The Sea The Stars colt has won each of his four starts to date, most recently impressing in the Group Two Prix Eugene Adam at Saint-Cloud in late June.

Trainer Francis-Henri Graffard saddled Calandagan to finish a close second to City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International 12 months ago and Daryz could bid to go one better on the Knavesmire.

Nemone Routh, racing manager for owners the Aga Khan Studs in France, said: “He won’t run in the Prix Guillaume d’Ornano this weekend, that’s for sure.

“We’re going to work him on Thursday and then make a decision about whether he goes to York or whether we run him next in the Prix Niel and follow a more traditional route towards the Arc, so we’ll see what he does on Thursday and make that decision then.

“He’s in good shape, we just want to be 100 per cent sure that we’re making the right call because it’s going to be a big ask going to York and we just want to see that last piece of work and make sure we’re making the right decision.

“By Thursday we’ll know a bit more about the field and the ground. The horse is in great form, but it’s going to be a big step for him so we’ll work him on Thursday, Mickael (Barzalona) will ride him, and we’ll make a decision then.”

The team have already ruled out a return to York for recent King George hero Calandagan, who has the Japan Cup as his major target for the second half of the season.

“He came out of Ascot absolutely fine and we could have gone to York, but we just felt we didn’t want to keep asking him to run at Group One level over the summer when we know we want to run him internationally at the end of the year,” Routh added.

“He’s not going back to the stud or anything, he’s staying in the yard, but we’re just not working towards a race.

“The main objective is the Japan Cup and he’ll have one run before, either in a Group Two in France or in the Champion Stakes.”