Ghaiyyath to face five in Irish Champion Stakes after Appleby confirms challenge

Godolphin superstar Ghaiyyath will face five rivals in Saturday's Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown after the five-year-old pleased Charlie Appleby in a routine gallop on Wednesday.

Appleby is satisfied Ghaiyyath remains in peak condition following his midweek gallop and his inclusion in the Group 1 contest (4.10) adds extra sparkle to the two-day Irish Champions Weekend.

Ghaiyyath, who also holds entries this autumn in the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe on October 4 and the Qipco Champion Stakes on October 17, became the world's highest-rated horse when powering three lengths clear of Magical to win last month's Juddmonte International at York.

"It was a routine piece of work to check his wellbeing and he's come through it without a worry," said Appleby. "It wasn't strong work, more a breeze, which is normal procedure three days before a race. He's telling us that he's ready for another big race."

Ghaiyyath has won three British Group 1s this season, including the Coral-Eclipse and Coronation Cup, having started his year at Meydan, where he easily won the Dubai Millennium Stakes.

"He travels to Ireland at the peak of his career, unbeaten in four starts this year, three of them Group 1s. Two of them were officially rated the best performances globally in 2020," added Appleby.

Watch Ghaiyyath demolish the field in the Juddmonte International

"He's a five-year-old and by any standards he's lightly raced. He's only run 12 times and this is is fourth season in training. I believe we're now seeing an outstanding racehorse at the top of his game.

"He's going to Leopardstown in as good a condition as we've ever had him. I'm as pleased with him as I was before the Juddmonte International at York, where I thought he was very professional. He showed his maturity and I think he's got better with every race."

William Buick makes a fuss of Ghaiyyath following the Juddmonte InternationalCredit: Pool

The majority of visitors to Ireland have to quarantine for 14 days but special dispensation has been given to elite sportspeople, allowing Ghaiyyath's regular rider William Buick to compete on Saturday.

"William knows him so well and they're a great combination," said Appleby. "He's ridden him in all bar two of his runs and loves the horse. Like all of us, he's always held him in the highest regard. Their confidence in each other has grown with every run this year."

Appleby believes Ghaiyyath has already done enough to be regarded as one of Godolphin's greats and places him in the same bracket as Blue Point, who was crowned champion sprinter in 2019.

"They're the two who were consistently exciting in the mornings and the afternoons. Ghaiyyath is already the highest-rated horse I've ever had the privilege to train. He's special," added Appleby.

Barney Roy was also entered for the Irish Champion Stakes but has been diverted to Germany, where he will bid to emulate Ghaiyyath by landing the Group 1 Grosser Preis Von Baden on Sunday.

Although his stablemate is not is opposition, Ghaiyyath will once again be challenged by Magical, last year's winner of the Irish Champion Stakes, in addition to the Aidan O'Brien-trained Japan and Armory.

Magical may be bidding to emulate the achievement of former Ballydoyle-trained inmate Dylan Thomas in recording back-to-back victories in the showpiece event, but O’Brien has said that Ryan Moore was only ever going to ride Japan in the race.

O’Brien explained: “Ryan was always going to ride Japan if everything was well with him. That has been the plan for a while now.”

He added: “Ryan will also stay and ride at the Curragh on Sunday rather than go to ride in France. We have Cristophe Soumillon, Mikael Barzalona and Pierre Charles-Boudot riding for us in France.”

Seamie Heffernan will ride Magical for just the second time, having partnered the six-time Group 1 winner in the Pretty Polly Stakes in June.

Ghaiyyath is not the only international challenger, with Jean-Claude Rouget sending over two-time Group 1 winner Sottsass for a prize the trainer won with Almanzor in 2016. The Jessica Harrington-trained Leo De Fury completes the six-runner field.

The other Group 1 on Saturday's Leopardstown card, the Coolmore America 'Justify' Matron Stakes, has attracted a strong field of 11 fillies, most notably Donnacha O'Brien's Prix de Diane and Nassau Stakes heroine Fancy Blue.

Aidan O'Brien's three-pronged attack is spearheaded by Irish 1,000 Guineas winner Peaceful with Love Locket and So Wonderful also declared.

Harrington's Albigna also features, along with her stablemate Valeria Messalina, while Johnny Murtagh runs Champers Elysees and Know It All.

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