Christophe Lemaire will be on the Knavesmire next week to partner the Group One winner.
Those close to Japanese raider Durezza are looking forward to a clash with Aidan O'Brien's Derby hero City Of Troy in the Juddmonte International Stakes at York next week.
Winner of five of his eight starts, the Tomohito Ozeki-trained four-year-old colt has demonstrated his versatility and class by winning over distances ranging from 10 furlongs to nearly two miles, and is now making his first foray abroad to compete in one of the flagship events of the Ebor Festival.
Although he won the Kikuka Sho (Japan's St Leger) last October, most of his success has come at shorter distances and the team believe he has what it takes to compete against the best middle-distance horses in Europe.
He will join Agnes World; and Deirdre, a Japanese Group 1 winner in Britain.
Durezza working on the Long Hill Polytrack in Newmarket before facing off against City Of Troy at @yorkracecourse next week pic.twitter.com/1daV8zs7nS
— Adam Morgan (@Adam_Morgs) August 13, 2024
"He has won the Japanese St Leger, but his other four wins have been around 10 furlongs,\" said Yusuke Sai, racing manager for Japan\'s Northern Farm, who bred the international contender.
"He is not a thorough stayer, he has a bit of class.
He may stay, but we think 10 furlongs over a mile and a half is his best distance.
"For me, the International Stakes is the best race in Europe, and I'm especially looking forward to racing against City of Troy, who I think is the best horse in Europe at the moment."
The last Japanese to compete in the race was Cheval Grand in 2019, but Rob Roy's Zenno came the closest to reclaiming the prize in the Far East, finishing behind Electrocutionist in 2005.
A son of Japanese Derby winner Duramente, who also finished second in the Dubai Sheema Classic, Durezza is owned by Carrot Farm, a subsidiary of Japanese breeding giant Northern Farm, whose pedigree stretches back to some of the best Japanese foals, including the great Deep Impact, the highly-anticipated six-time winner Equinox and Dubai Turf scorer Almond Eye.
Having enjoyed great success on the international stage with the likes of Equinox and Loves Only You, another win in Britain is now in sight as the breeders look to add to Deirdre’s Nassau Stakes victory in 2019.Sai continued: “Winning Group 1s overseas is our aim at Northern Farm.
Most years we sent horses to Dubai and the Breeders' Cup.
"Equinox was bred by Northern Form and he won in Dubai and both Marche Lorraine and Loves Only You won at the Breeders' Cup are also great horses bred by Northern Farm.
"The CEO of Carrot Farm is a daughter of the CEO of Northern Farm so we are all part of the same family and Carrot Farm has a very close relationship with Northern Farm.
A Carrot Farm syndicate horse bred by Northern Farm.
Durezza is being fine-tuned for the Knavesmire Group 1 at Newmarket to fill a gap in the calendar ahead of the Japan Cup later this year.
Regular jockey Christophe Lemaire will partner Durezza for the Yorkshire encounter after missing his last race, the Tenno Sho in Kyoto in April, due to injury.
And the colt's team is confident the York field suits the horse, whose odds for the big race range from 16-1 to 33-16.
"We were always going to race at York but it didn't work out last time," added See, who has enjoyed returning to the familiar surroundings of Charlie Fellows' Bedford Lodge stables, where he once worked as a trainer, to follow the great Luca Cumani.
"We're keeping a close eye on him and he seems to be doing well.
In Japan there are very few options for Group 1 horses in the summer and we've chosen a horse over 1,400 metres, so that's why we've taken him."His main goal is the Japan Cup.
He has always thought about it and he has had a good break since his last race."
"York is incredibly flat compared to other courses in the UK so I think it definitely suits him.He's happy and enjoying the good weather.
Summer in Japan is terrible, very humid and too hot.
"The last time he fled, he had a thermal blow, so this is one of the reasons why we made him run in good weather.He is relaxed and settled."
He continued: "Christophe Lemaire is coming to ride.
He rode him in the Japanese St Leger and is Durezza's main jockey – he couldn't ride last time because he was injured in Dubai on World Cup night."
