Simon and Ed Crisford’s promising miler Quddwah is gearing up for a return to France, targeting the Prix Daniel Wildenstein.
The Kingman colt made a strong impression by winning his first four starts, including a Group Two triumph in Ascot’s Summer Mile in July, which earned him a spot in the Prix Jacques le Marois. Although he lost his unbeaten record to Roger Varian’s Charyn, who secured back-to-back Group One victories, Quddwah’s fourth-place finish was respectable.
"It was his first encounter with Group One horses and the ground was perhaps a bit too quick for him," said Ed Crisford. "Despite not meeting our full expectations, it was a solid performance, considering it was only his fifth race. The winner was exceptional, and Charyn has proven to be a top horse this year. We were just a head away from second place."
The plan now is for Quddwah to compete in the Prix Daniel Wildenstein on Arc weekend, rather than the Solonaway Stakes at Leopardstown. Crisford explained, "We decided to skip Leopardstown and wait for Arc weekend. He’s still maturing and learning with each race, so we hope to see further progress in Paris."
Although Quddwah did not race, the Crisfords had representation in the Solonaway Stakes through Poker Face, who finished fourth behind the favourite Diego Velazquez. The five-year-old has several options for the rest of the season, including a possible rematch with Quddwah on October 5.
Crisford commented on Poker Face’s performance: "He ran well on drying ground, although he usually prefers softer conditions. He’s a reliable horse who performs well when everything falls into place. We’ll explore options like the Joel Stakes or possibly returning to Paris, depending on how he recovers and the ground conditions."