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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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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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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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.

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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The field consists of multiple big-race winners and none more so than the winner of the Diamond Jubilee Stakes, Hello Youmzain. The four-year-old was giving jockey Kevin Stott his first Royal Ascot win as well as first Group 1 win and the pair will be well fancied again this Saturday.

Stott is hoping to continue his whirlwind start to the season; the 25-year-old had undoubtedly the biggest day of his career on the Saturday of this year's Royal meeting. He won the Diamond Jubilee Stakes with Hello Youmzain for his first Group 1 and immediately followed it up with a winner in the next race with Hey Jonesey – his first Royal Ascot winners.

The North Yorkshire-based jockey revealed the pure emotion he felt that day and that Kevin Ryan's stable star, Hello Youmzain, has come out of the race well and is ready to go on Saturday, in a race that forms part of the 2020 QIPCO British Champions Series.

“As we crossed the line it was the best feeling in the world. It's something that I've dreamt about since I was a kid,” Stott said.

“Hello Youmzain has come out of the race brilliantly, his preparation for the July Cup on Saturday has been very good. He's been fresh and well so I'm very happy with him.

“He's a very big horse, he was a late two-year-old. He's extremely balanced and very fast out of the stalls. If I could describe him in one word it would be that he's athletic. He's an absolute pleasure to ride.”

Stott is 12^th in this year's Flat Jockeys' Championship with 21 wins from 117 rides at a strike rate of 18%.

The winner of the other six-furlong sprint at the Royal meeting, Golden Horde will also head to post after his commanding victory in the Commonwealth Cup. Clive Cox and Adam Kirby know all about teaming up with sprinters in this race having won it twice before with Lethal Force and Harry Angel.

The past three runnings of the Darley July Cup have been won by 3-year-olds and last year the Classic generation were responsible for the first five home – a good omen for Clive Cox's sprinter.

Last year's champion apprentice Cieren Fallon Jr. is hoping Oxted can provide him with a dream first Group 1 triumph by landing the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on Saturday. Fallon Jr. is still able to claim 3lb in the majority of races but the status of the showpiece sprint, which forms part of the 35-race QIPCO British Champions Series, means he has to compete on level terms.

Fallon Jr. guided Oxted to victory in the William Hill Portland Handicap at Doncaster in September and was also on board him when he won the Group 3 Betway Abernant Stakes on his return at Newmarket last month.

Fallon Jr. believes the absence of any spectators will be a bonus for the horse: “He has his quirks and we have the hood on him in the parade ring. The crowd not being there is a big help to him as he can get a little worked up beforehand.”

Hello Youmzain's win in the Diamond Jubilee could prove to be a good form guide as three of the first four home all re-oppose each other here.

Irish sprint sensation, Sceptical was third in the Royal Ascot Group 1 and will be looking to overturn that result this time out. Trained by Denis Hogan in Ireland, Sceptical changed hands for just 2,800gns last year as an unraced three-year-old and has already proved a lucrative purchase. He will again be ridden by Frankie Dettori, still searching for an elusive first win in the July Cup.

Fourth place in the Diamond Jubilee went to Khadeem and he will also be looking to reverse that form for trainer, Charlie Hills.

Brando, the 2017 Prix Maurice De Gheest winner, will be running in his fourth July Cup for Kevin Ryan. He beat all bar U S Navy Flag in the 2018 renewal and chased home Judicial at Newcastle last time out.

Threat scooped two Group 2 prizes as a juvenile last year – including when beating Lord Of The Lodge in the Al Basti equiworld Dubai Gimcrack Stakes at York – and drops back in distance after finishing fifth on his return over a. mile in the St James's Palace Stakes. Conversely, Equilateral moves up in distance after chasing home Battaash, his brilliant stablemate, in the King's Stand Stakes.

German-trained challenger Namos, winner of two pattern races in his native country this year, adds international flavour, while Sir Dancealot gets the opportunity to try and improve on the fourth place he managed in the 2018 July Cup.

Shine So Bright ounds out the field of 13 and will be looking to return to some sort of form after a disappointing run in the Diamond Jubilee where he could only manage tenth.

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