Desert Crown set for Juddmonte International showdown

Last year’s Derby winner Desert Crown set for sizzling clash with Paddington and Mostahdaf in next week’s Juddmonte International

The highly anticipated Juddmonte International is just around the corner, and fans are buzzing with excitement over the potential showdown between last year’s Derby champion, Desert Crown, and formidable opponents Paddington and Mostahdaf. The four-year-old sensation recently completed a successful gallop under the guidance of jockey Ryan Moore.

Since his impressive victory at Epsom, Desert Crown has only made one appearance on the track. Unfortunately, he lost his unbeaten record to Hukum in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes back in May. His absence from the King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes was another setback as Hukum claimed victory once again.

“Desert Crown worked this morning, he worked nicely and everybody was happy with him,” shared Bruce Raymond, racing manager to owner Saeed Suhail. “He’s not known for being an exceptional worker but today went better than expected.”

Despite William Buick initially slated as his jockey for the King George race before withdrawing due to unforeseen circumstances, it is expected that he will be aboard Desert Crown next week. However, for Wednesday’s practice spin on Knavesmire track at York Racecourse, Ryan Moore took up reins.

Aiming for redemption:

This highly anticipated match-up promises to be an exhilarating race where redemption is on everyone’s mind. After exerting great effort during Sandown Park’s event earlier this season, Desert Crown left spectators astonished by how much he struggled after crossing the finish line.

Raymond revealed, “It wasn’t mentioned at the time, but Desert Crown needed the Sandown race badly. Sir Michael was taken aback by how much he was blowing afterwards. Due to inclement weather, we couldn’t train him as much on grass as we would have liked.”

Intriguingly, Hukum’s team had been diligently preparing for their face-off with Desert Crown and had been performing exceptionally well during practice sessions. Raymond added, “Their horse has been in excellent form for quite some time now and is even a favorite for the upcoming Arc.”

Looking ahead:

The Juddmonte International presents an ideal opportunity for Desert Crown to prove his mettle once again. With his talent and reputation, options are limited when it comes to choosing suitable races.

“Where else could you take a horse like that? He’s got to go somewhere,” emphasized Raymond. “When you’re competing at this level of excellence, there are only certain races that can truly test your abilities.”