darley july cup | Horse Racing Free Tips

Yahagi Seeking More Global Success in July Cup

Japanese trainer Yoshito Yahagi has had quite the year on the international stage and his next target is this Saturday's G1 Darley July Cup with King Hermes (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}).

The 3-year-old colt, winner of the GII Keio Hai Nisai S. last season, arrived in Newmarket on June 24 with his stablemate Bathrat Leon (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}), who is set to run in the G1 Qatar Sussex S. at Goodwood. King Hermes got his first taste of the July Course on Tuesday morning when working five furlongs under jockey Ryusei Sakai and accompanied by two geldings trained by Roger Varian and John Berry.

After watching his horse school in the pre-parade and parade rings in a relaxed manner which continued throughout the exercise, Yahagi, who arrived in the UK on Monday and was speaking via interpreter Kanichi Kusano of the Japan Racing Association, said, “I am conscious that the horse lost his speed in the last furlong and maybe that was the hill but this work will make him understand how to run on race day.”

King Hermes, who has made just five starts and has not run over six furlongs since his juvenile debut in June 2021, has more recently been tested at a mile, but his trainer is not concerned with the drop back in trip for the July Cup, with the undulations of the course being a factor in this decision.

He continued, “I feel that the ideal distance for this horse is seven furlongs but since you have the incline here then maybe reducing to six furlongs will suit him as well.

“I was worried about his inexperience until I saw the horses today, but now I have seen him I feel quite confident for the July Cup. I specifically love the July Cup and the July Course and it would be a real honour if I was fortunate enough to win this race.”

It will be a first ride in the UK for Ryusei Sakai, who has international race-riding experience in Australia, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and France as well as at home in Japan. Yahagi is however familiar with Newmarket having spent three months on a Dubai-sponsored scholarship with Geoff Wragg's stable in 1990.

His love of travel have not abated since then. He last saddled runners in England at Royal Ascot a decade ago, but in the past year his profile on the world stage has risen, with a Breeders' Cup double courtesy of Marche Loraine (Jpn) and Loves Only You (Jpn) at Del Mar. This feat was followed by victory for Stay Foolish (Jpn) in the Longines Red Sea Turf H. on the Saudi Cup card and a treble on Dubai World Cup night with the aforementioned Bathrat Leon and Stay Foolish in the G2 Godolphin Mile and G2 Dubai Gold Cup respectively, while Panthalassa (Jpn) dead-heated with Lord North (Ire) in the G1 Dubai Turf. In among those international successes, Yahagi's Triple Crown winner of 2021, Contrail (Jpn), bowed out with victory in the G1 Japan Cup in November.

Japan has been represented by a July Cup winner in Agnes World, who won the race as a 5-year-old in 2000 for Hideyuki Mori in the hands of Yutaka Take.

Recalling this success for his home nation, Yahagi commented, “It is very difficult to compare King Hermes to [Agnes World] who was a very good sprinter. This horse is young and inexperienced but we are just looking forward to the experience.”

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Walsh-Trained Extravagant Kid ‘In His Prime’ Ahead Of Saturday’s Group 1 July Cup

USA-based trainer Brendan Walsh insists it would be “quite something” if he could re-establish his links with Newmarket and saddle Extravagant Kid to glory in the Darley July Cup at Saturday's Moet & Chandon July Festival.

Having spent time working in the town for Godolphin and former trainer Mark Wallace before heading to America, Walsh will now bid to capture the prestigious six furlong Group One on Saturday, July 10 with the globetrotting 8-year-old.

The Kiss The Kid gelding took his form to new heights earlier this year when capturing the Group One Al Quoz Sprint over six furlongs at Meydan in March ahead of finishing third back over five furlongs in the King's Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot on June 15.

With a return to six furlongs not expected to pose any problems for Extravagant Kid, who is currently housed at Abingdon Place Stables in Newmarket, the Kentucky-based handler is confident he can make his presence felt.

“I spent a lot of time working in Newmarket back in the day as I worked three or four summers for Godolphin then four years for Mark Wallace before that so I know the place very well,” said Walsh.

“I always liked the July Meeting and it would be quite something if I could go back there and win the July Cup with this lad.

“I don't think going back up to six furlongs will be a negative. Although it is a little stiffer than Dubai, you are going downhill a lot of the way. It is probably as far as he needs to go but I think he will be fine.

“We gave him plenty of time to get over his travelling turnaround but you would think he would be in a better position now having had that run at Ascot.”

Extravagant Kid will again have the services of top jockey Frankie Dettori, who rode the gelding at Royal Ascot.

Up until this year Extravagant Kid had been campaigned exclusively in North America, but Walsh believes his recent spell racing abroad has helped rejuvenate his career.

He added: “The first target this year was Dubai and that worked out well so we thought why not go to Ascot now and now here we are.

“He ran really well at Ascot and justified us taking him there. I think that was a tougher spot than Dubai. He showed he belonged there and I was happy with him.

“Travelling with him is a new dimension and he seems to like it. It has brought out the best in him. As an older horse travelling just adds something a bit different.

“He is eight now and is probably in his prime. He is not going to be up to this standard forever so we will just enjoy it.”

There are 23 confirmations for the Darley July Cup, which takes place over six furlongs on the July Course and forms part of the British Champions Series.

Defending champion Oxted, from the Roger Teal yard, will bid to defend his Darley July Cup crown on the back of tasting victory in the King's Stand Stakes. If successful again in 2021, Oxted would become the first back to back since Right Boy in 1958/1959.

Charlie Appleby is responsible for two entries of Glorious Journey and Jersey Stakes scorer Creative Force.

Ed Walker is represented by impressive Duke Of York Stakes scorer Starman and Came From The Dark, while fellow Lambourn handler Archie Watson is another double handed after leaving in both Glen Shiel and Dragon Symbol.

Lope Y Fernandez could bid to give Aidan O'Brien a record breaking sixth victory in the race, is one of three remaining Irish-trained entrants that remain alongside the Ken Condon-trained Miss Amulet, and Thunder Moon (Joseph O'Brien), winner of the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes last season.

THE DARLEY JULY CUP (Group 1) (British Champions Series)

Saturday, July 10

Art Power (IRE) – Tim Easterby – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Silvestre De Sousa
Brando – Kevin Ryan – Mrs Angie Bailey – Tom Eaves
Chil Chil – Andrew Balding – King Power Racing Co Ltd – Rob Hornby
Creative Force (IRE) – Charlie Appleby – Godolphin – William Buick
Dragon Symbol – Archie Watson – Mr Yoshiro Kubota – Oisin Murphy
Emaraaty Ana – Kevin Ryan – Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum
Extravagant Kid (USA) – Brendan Walsh – DARRS Inc. – Frankie Dettori
Final Song (IRE) – Saeed bin Suroor – Godolphin
Garrus (IRE) – Charles Hills – Mrs Susan Roy
Glen Shiel – Archie Watson – Hambleton Racing XXXVI & Partner – Hollie Doyle
Glorious Journey – Charlie Appleby – HH Sheikha Al Jalila Racing
Good Effort (IRE) – Ismail Mohammed – Mr Abdulla Al Mansoori – Ray Dawson
Line of Departure (IRE) – Roger Varian – H.H. Shaikh Nasser Al Khalifa & F. Nass
Lope Y Fernandez (IRE) – Aidan O'Brien – Mr D. Smith, Mrs J. Magnier, Mr M. Tabor
Method (IRE) – Martyn Meade – Manton Park Racing – Sean Levey
Miss Amulet (IRE) – K. J. Condon – Mrs Doreen Tabor
Oxted – Roger Teal – S Piper, T. Hirschfeld, D. Fish & J. Collins – Cieren Fallon
Rohaan (IRE) – David Evans – Chris Kiely Racing Ltd & Mr J Tomkins – Shane Kelly
Starman – Ed Walker – David Ward – Tom Marquand
Summerghand (IRE) – David O'Meara – Mr Hamad Rashed Bin Ghedayer
Supremacy (IRE) – Clive Cox – Mr J Goddard – Adam Kirby
Thunder Moon (IRE) – Joseph Patrick O'Brien – Mrs C. C. Regalado-Gonzalez
Ventura Rebel – Richard Fahey – Mr Abdullah Menahi

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Oxted Among 42 July Cup Entries

The G1 Darley July Cup, scheduled for day three of the Moet & Chandon July Festival at Newmarket July 10, has attracted 42 entries, led by trainer Roger Teal's defending race champion Oxted (GB) (Mayson {GB}).

The 5-year-old, a close fifth to Glen Shiel (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in last year's G1 QIPCO British Champions Sprint at Ascot in October, has run well without greeting the judge in two starts this term, a runner-up effort to Summerghand (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) in the G3 Abernant S. at Newmarket Apr. 15 and a third behind Starman (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) in the G2 Clipper Logistics S. when last seen at York May 12.

Trainer Brendan Walsh has engaged Extravagant Kid (Kiss the Kid), winner of the G1 Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan Mar. 27, while trainer Wesley Ward could also be represented by 3-year-old filly Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), winner of the G2 Queen Mary S. at the Royal meeting and the G1 Prix Morny at Deauville. Aidan O'Brien has entered a trio of runners–Battleground (War Front), Lipizzaner (Uncle Mo) and Lope Y Fernandez (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}).

The six-furlong July Cup forms part of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

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Son Of Six-Time Champion Jockey Kieren Fallon Earns First Group 1 Win In July Cup

Roger Teal and Cieren Fallon Jr both broke their maiden Group 1 tag in a thrilling Darley July Cup on Saturday at Newmarket.

In a race packed with speed and quality on paper, the 2020 Darley July Cup looked set to be a memorable renewal and it didn't disappoint.

In a field containing Group 1 winners Golden Horde and Hello Youmzain, Fallon Jr. always had Oxted handy and remained on the pace for the entirety of the six-furlong dash. The main protagonists also held good positions and a thrilling finish unfolded in the final furlong.

Eventual-winner Oxted made his move two furlongs out between Golden Horde and the tiring Hello Youmzain.

Once hitting the front, Oxted was always doing enough to repel the challenge of Sceptical and Frankie Dettori for a memorable victory for connections.

Joyous scenes unfolded off the track as both Roger Teal and his son, Harry could be seen sprinting down the track willing the horse home.

After the race in an interview with ITV's Oli Bell, Fallon Jr. said “I can't put it into words, I'm speechless Oli. I was just a passenger on a very good horse today.”

Fallon Jr. comes from racing stock, with his father, Kieren Fallon having won multiple Group 1's and was a six-time Champion Jockey. However last year's Champion Apprentice has already got one up on his father who himself never won the Darley July Cup.

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