Daryz and Ombudsman have been declared for a blockbuster clash in the June 17 Prince of Wales's Stakes (G1) at Royal Ascot.
A final field of eight is set to go to post at 4:20 p.m. local time (11:20 a.m. ET) for the day two showpiece, with last year's Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (G1) hero Daryz facing off against three-time group 1 winner Ombudsman, who returns to defend his Prince of Wales's title. The leading pair, successful in their two starts this year, meet again after competing in last year's International (G1) at York Racecourse, where Godolphin's Ombudsman won impressively as Daryz finished last.
Since then, though, Aga Khan Stud's Daryz has taken his form to great heights, most notably in the Arc. In a fascinating matchup, bookmaker Paddy Power couldn't split Daryz and Ombudsman, making the pair their 11-8 joint-favorites. However, bookmaker Coral has installed Ombudsman as their new favorite at 11-8 (from 6-4), with Daryz now 6-4 (from 6-5).
Coral's David Stevens said: "The market has spoken in favor of Ombudsman in recent days, so it's no surprise last year's winner has now replaced Daryz at the head of the betting. Almaqam and Minnie Hauk also bring their group 1 form to what promises to be one of the races of the royal meeting."
Daryz has prepped with a pair of group 1 victories this spring at ParisLongchamp, including a 3 1/2-length score in the Prix Aga Khan IV (formerly the Prix d'Ispahan, G1) May 21, reinforcing trainer Francis-Henri Graffard's confidence in starting in the Prince of Wales's Stakes, a race which was last won by a horse carrying the Aga Khan Studs' emerald and red silks in 2005, when Azamour struck at York.
"He's an exceptional horse but he's not straightforward to train every day. He knows he's a boss. Jean-Philippe (his work rider) does a great job in ensuring they respect one another," Graffard said. "What I was looking for today was a race that would guide me as to how to train him for his next race.
"He was very relaxed through the run, he was able to follow the pace easily and his jockey always had him where he wanted him. For me, the important thing was to give him a relatively straightforward race as we continue to build up to Ascot."
Almaqam, who beat Ombudsman in the Brigadier Gerard Stakes (G3) last year, leads the opposition to the big two, having won at the group 1 level for the first time in last month's Gold Cup (G1).
Minnie Hauk, a beaten favorite in the Gold Cup, was declared alongside Aidan O'Brien-trained stablemate Mississippi River for the Prince of Wales's.
Racing Post's Scott Burton contributed to this story.
Prince of Wales's Stakes runners and riders
Almaqam, Kieran Shoemark
Dancing Gemini, Rossa Ryan
Daryz, Mickael Barzalona
Devil's Advocate, Robert Havlin
Mississippi River, Wayne Lordan
Ombudsman, William Buick
Minnie Hauk, Ryan Moore
See The Fire, Oisin Murphy
