Tag Archive for: Sayidah Dariyan

Hughes counting down to the Nunthorpe with Sayidah Dariyan

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Richard Hughes is confident he has a “great chance” of notching a second big sprinting prize of the summer when course winner Sayidah Dariyan returns to York for the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes.

The Lambourn-based former jockey registered the first Group One success of his training career when stable flagbearer No Half Measures was a shock 66-1 winner of the July Cup at Newmarket, but a day prior it was his ever-improving three-year-old filly who sparkled when winning on the Knavesmire to set up her Nunthorpe bid.

“We hope we have a great chance, she’s really going the right way,” said Hughes, who memorably won the Nunthorpe aboard both Oasis Dream and Sole Power as a rider.

“I wouldn’t swap her for anything and with No Half Measures as well we know we have two nice fillies.”

Sayidah Dariyan has barely put a foot wrong in her three-year-old career, winning a competitive conditions event at Chelmsford before bumping into the thriving Symbol Of Honour when third in Newbury’s Carnarvon Stakes and then going on to finish fourth in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

However, it was at York in the Summer Stakes where the Jaber Abdullah-owned three-year-old excelled in the hands of Billy Loughnane, leaving her as short as 8-1 in places for the Ebor Festival’s sprinting highlight.

“Last time when she won at York it was the first time she was ridden the way I like,” continued Hughes.

“She was covered up and ridden for a turn of foot and she just exploded. We were able to see the best of her ridden that way.

“I don’t think coming back to five furlongs will be too much of a hindrance to her and I think she’s quite fast.”

Sayidah Dariyan will be joined on her journey to Yorkshire by stablemate America Queen who will also sport the Abdullah silks when she lines up for the Sky Bet Lowther Stakes.

A 4-1 chance for the Group Two event after blitzing the opposition by 12 lengths on debut at Haydock, Weathercock House handler Hughes is hopeful of another bold showing.

“She definitely runs in the Lowther and we’re very pleased with her,” continued Hughes.

“We hadn’t seen what she did at Haydock at home. We thought she would win at Haydock but when the jockey gave her a slap and she took off, it was what we hadn’t seen before so hopefully she’s saving more for the track.

“We’ve got a nice bunch of two-year-olds who are going the right way and we’re really pleased with them.”

Hughes eyeing York return for thriving Sayidah Dariyan

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Fresh from training his first Group One winner with No Half Measures in the July Cup, Richard Hughes feels he has another contender for top honours in Sayidah Dariyan.

A Group Three winner at York on Friday on the back of a creditable run at Royal Ascot in the Commonwealth Cup, the filly could return to the Knavesmire for a crack at the Coolmore Wootton Bassett Nunthorpe Stakes next month.

“I thought her run at Ascot was huge and to be honest I’d have been really disappointed had she got beat at York,” Hughes told Racing TV’s Luck on Sunday programme.

“I had a good chat with Billy (Loughnane) about how to get the best out of the filly, which was to ride her the way he did, and it was a very brave ride, I was very proud of him.

“I told him about riding in these big races, don’t worry if you get beat and I’d rather you come too late than too soon, but she really showed how good she was and she’s a very high-class filly.

“She could win the July Cup next year. We’ll have a chat with Jaber (Abdullah, owner) and see what he wants to do as he’s a big breeder as well.

“We might think about the Nunthorpe as the way she travelled the other day I don’t think five furlongs will make much difference to her.

“If I have to wait until September and the ground goes on me there isn’t much left because Ascot will be soft. If I need a shot at a Group One I probably need fast ground.”

Sayidah Dariyan swoops late for Summer success

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Billy Loughnane rode Sayidah Dariyan with plenty of confidence and the filly delivered in style in the William Hill Summer Stakes at York.

The Richard Hughes-trained three-year-old was sent off the 9-4 favourite on the back of her run at Royal Ascot when she was fourth, beaten just over a length, in the Group One Commonwealth Cup.

Dropped in class to a Group Three and back in against her own sex, the 9-4 favourite could be spotted travelling ominously well with two furlongs to run but she had a wall of horses in front of her.

Loughnane managed to weave his way through the pack to take up the running and the race was over in a matter of strides.

Nighteyes, who herself had outrun market expectations in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Ascot, stayed on for a length-and-a-half second, catching the returning Celandine, last year’s Lowther winner who was making her first start of the season.

Loughnane told Racing TV: “Richard told me to be as confident as I could on her as she relaxes lovely behind, she conserves so much energy and she’s got an electric turn of foot when you let her down.

“She ran well at Ascot but I’ll leave future placing to Richard and the team. She’s in great nick and is definitely a filly on the up.

“She’s got the best mind ever. She yawns in the gate and when they open she gets down to it.

“To be honest I’d have liked a smoother passage through, but I just had to wait. It probably did me a favour as it meant I didn’t get there too soon.”

It capped a good 10 minutes for Hughes who also won at Ascot with Sayidah Hard Spun.