Cheval Grand Targets Juddmonte International Stakes

After waiting 19 years for a second British group 1 triumph, Japan's third could come just 20 days later.

When Deirdre took last week's Qatar Nassau Stakes (G1) at Goodwood, she was scoring her country's first top-level triumph in Britain since Agnes World in the 2000 Darley July Cup (G1). Now compatriot Cheval Grand is primed for a crack at the Juddmonte International Stakes (G1) at York in two weeks, with Oisin Murphy set to ride.

The 2017 Japan Cup (G1) winner, who is housed alongside Deirdre at Abington Place Stables in Newmarket, is expected to improve on his sixth-place effort in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth QIPCO Stakes (G1) at Ascot last month when he lines up on the opening day of the Ebor festival.

"The ground was too soft for him in the King George," said Yusuke Oe, assistant to trainer Yasuo Tomomichi. "It was very unfortunate that it kept raining from the night before until the afternoon of the race and it was too (slippery) for him. He is a horse who prefers firm ground.

"Cheval Grand is in very good form. He's training towards York and we're trying to get him better than last time. He will have another few gallops before York. He was fit in the King George, but he was beaten by two very brilliant horses in Enable and Crystal Ocean."

With Enable switched to the Yorkshire Oaks (G1), Crystal Ocean is a top-priced 6-4 favorite for the Juddmonte International in which Cheval Grand, who finished second in the Dubai Sheema Classic Sponsored by Longines (G1) at Meydan before arriving in Britain, is a best-priced 33-1.

Oe is looking forward to the £1 million contest.

"Last month I visited York to see the racecourse and meet with the clerk of the course William Derby," he said. "It felt like a racecourse with a good atmosphere."

Murphy, who partnered with Deirdre to her landmark success at Goodwood last week, said on his website: "I am delighted to announce I have been confirmed to ride Japanese group 1 winner Cheval Grand in the Juddmonte International at York.

"Hopefully he will get his favored fast ground and if he does I expect him to run a nice race."

Irish Champion Stakes an Option for Deirdre

Connections are mulling over targets for Nassau Stakes winner Deirdre following her Glorious Goodwood triumph, with the Sept. 14 QIPCO Irish Champion Stakes (G1) at Leopardstown among the options.

Buoyed by their memorable triumph on the South Downs, connections of the Mitsuru Hashida-trained mare are looking towards Irish Champions Weekend and the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) remains on her radar. 

Japan as a racing nation is set to be well represented in the Arc as they target a historic first win in the lucrative ParisLongchamp contest in October, but one horse who will not be traveling to Paris is Tokyo Yushun (Japanese Derby, G1) winner Roger Barows.

Connections had announced his challenge for the Arc this autumn after an intended run in the Prix Niel (G2) as his prep. However, the Katsuhiko Sumii-trained 3-year-old has been retired after superficial digital flexor tendonitis was found in his right hind on Aug. 6.

He is set to embark on a career at stud, with his trainer also citing his valuable pedigree due to the recent death of his prolific sire, Deep Impact.

Trainer Sumii said on Tuesday: "After a discussion with the owner we have decided he will be retired and sent to stud. His pedigree is very valuable because of his sire Deep Impact's death. It was good for him that he could win the Japanese Derby."

Roger Barows' stablemate Kiseki, runner-up to Almond Eye in last year's Japan Cup, remains on course for France with the Prix Foy (G2) set to be his prep. Kiseki will be without regular rider Yuka Kawada for the Arc, as he will ride Blast Onepiece at Longchamp.

Blast Onepiece (Masahiro Otake) and Fierement (Takahisa Tezuka) will run in the in the Aug. 18 Sapporo Kinen (G2) before departing to Europe. Tezuka plans to train Fierement in Newmarket instead of Chantilly.