The Coolmore partners' City Of Troy (Justify) will likely face a truly international field in the £1.2-million G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on Aug. 21. Durezza (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}), a Japanese Classic winner, will travel to the Knavesmire to tangle with the Ballydoyle G1 Derby hero next month, York's CEO William Derby confirmed on Wednesday.
“We're obviously delighted to hear the news from Ballydoyle that City Of Troy is likely to run in the Juddmonte International–obviously there's a long way to go with horses, but to have Europe's highest-rated three-year-old being aimed at our flagship race is great,” said Derby.
“We all saw what he did in the Betfred Derby, he obviously wasn't on a going day in the Guineas, but he won the Eclipse like Sea The Stars did ahead of coming to the Knavesmire and it will be fascinating to see how he performs if he comes.”
Racing in the colours of Carrot Farm, the 4-year-old Durezza won the G1 Kikuka Sho (Japanese St Leger) last October. He will be ridden by French ex-pat Christophe Lemaire in the 10-furlong showpiece.
Derby added, “It has also been confirmed this morning that Durezza, who won the Japanese St Leger last year, is heading our way with Christophe Lemaire due to ride him, so to have the best two jockeys in the world in Christophe and Ryan Moore taking each other on is something very exciting for us and all race fans. It's our flagship race, the best we stage and the richest so we're delighted City Of Troy and Durezza have it on their radar.”
The last Japanese top-flight winner to contest the Juddmonte International was in 2005, when subsequent Group 1 sire Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) (Sunday Silence) was edged out by Electrocutionist (Red Ransom) with the margin only a neck.
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