Canarias To Take July Challenge

Spanish speedster Noozhoh Canarias is on target for the Darley July Cup at Newmarket on July 12, for which 29 possible runners remain.

Having helped set a scorching gallop, the Enrique Leon-trained three-year-old came home sixth in the 2000 Guineas. That form could not have worked out any better, with three horses in the race subsequently winning Classics.

"Noozhoh Canarias will be travelling over to England again for the Darley July Cup," said Leon.

"He has been working well and I believe that he is bigger and sharper now than he was before the Guineas. I am very happy with the way he has developed.

"He has already done something no Spanish horse has done before (in being beaten just over four lengths in the Guineas) and it has since been proven as a very strong piece of form.

"He was only a couple of lengths behind (Derby winner) Australia and had (French Derby hero) The Grey Gatsby behind him.

"Maybe if Kingman had not pressed him for the lead as early as he did, Kingman might have won the Guineas and we would have finished even closer.

"He is the type of horse who tries extremely hard and puts a lot into his races and needs space between each run.

"Royal Ascot came a bit too soon for him and if we wanted to run him at a shorter distance and keep him at Group One level the Darley July Cup was the obvious race for him.

"The July Course should suit him and the team at Newmarket treated us beautifully so I am very happy to go back there.

"He is a horse that has always had a lot of natural speed and now I want to see him able to really use it. On pedigree, I thought that he would be suited by a minimum of a mile but what he has done on the racecourse suggests that he will prove better over shorter.

"He has given Spanish racing a huge boost. Since the Guineas, a number of people have come up to me at the races in Madrid and said that they have been inspired to come racing for the first time by Noozhoh Canarias - that is the best thing about him as far as I am concerned."

Eddie Lynam's Royal Ascot winners Sole Power and Slade Power remain, along with Diamond Jubilee runner-up Due Diligence.

Wesley Ward's Undrafted is on target to travel over from America, while the likes of Hot Streak, Pearl Secret, Maarek and Kingsgate Native could all be involved.


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