Durezza had a 5:40am arrival at Charlie Fellowes’ Bedford Lodge stables on August 4 and last year’s Japanese St Leger winner is so far pleasing connections at his temporary base ahead of the G1 Juddmonte International Stakes at York on August 21.
The Tomohito Ozeki-trained four-year-old is aiming to be the first Japanese-trained winner of York’s great 10-furlong feature, Zenno Rob Roy having placed a close second to Electrocutionist in 2005, and Cheval Grand eighth in 2019.
“Durezza arrived safely, he is settling well and his appetite is great, he looks really well,” said Yusuke Sai, of Northern Farm’s international affairs team who is accompanying the horse, which runs in the colours of the Northern Farm-affiliated Carrot Farm racing club.
“We still haven’t done anything with him, this morning we just had him walking but we’re really happy with him and he seems to be happy in his big box here.”
Sai is well-acquainted with the Bedford Lodge Stables facilities, having spent time there working for the yard’s previous long-time master, Luca Cumani.
“I was here for two years in 2014-15, it’s a great set-up here,” Sai told Idol Horse.
Accompanying Durezza on his travels from Ozeki’s Miho stables is groom and work rider Yoichi Yahara who knows the colt’s habits and character well.
“Mr Yahara tells me he’s a smart horse,” Sai said. “Sometimes that’s in a good way and sometimes he can be a little bit cheeky. He really knows what’s going on. He watches and takes in everything that is going on around him.”
Durezza earned his Classic stripes when winning the G1 Kikuka Sho over 3000m at Kyoto last October to complete a five-win streak at his sixth start. That was a decisive three and a half-length victory over the G1 Tokyo Yushun (Japan Derby) winner Tastiera, with the G1 Satsuki Sho (2,000 Guineas) hero Sol Oriens back in third.
The colt has had two starts this term, a fair second behind the high-class Prognosis in the G2 Kinko Sho over 2000m in March and then a disappointing 15th of 17 in the G1 Tenno Sho Spring over 3200m in late April.
Ozeki will arrive in England on the afternoon of August 14 to oversee the final preparations for Durezza’s Juddmonte International raid and he plans to visit York a week before the big race to see the track and the stable facilities for himself.
The trainer is best known for his handling of the two-time G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Glory Vase and the two-time G1 Sprinters Stakes winner Red Falx.
Christophe Lemaire has been booked for Durezza. The JRA champion jockey missed the ride in the Tenno Sho Spring last time due to injuries sustained when his mount Catnip broke down and fell in the G1 Dubai Turf in March.
Lemaire has won three of the five races he has contested on Durezza, including the pair’s Kikuka Sho triumph.
