Riyazan has Champions Weekend target Mick Halford will aim his Curragh maiden winner Riyazan at Leopardstown on Irish Champions Weekend. Sent off at 25-1, the Aga Khan-owned colt created a good impression when beating Aidan O'Brien's odds-on favourite Nelson by two and three-quarter lengths on Monday. Halford will now look towards the Group Three Willis Towers Watson Champion Juvenile Turf Stakes - registered as the Golden Fleece - on September 9th for the son of Iffraaj. The County Kildare handler told www.michaelhalford.com: "His work at home had been good and we were expecting a decent showing from him. "He won in the style of a smart horse and he'll go to Leopardstown on Champions Day for the Golden Fleece Stakes. "There is no reason to think that he won't be a better horse next year and we'll learn a bit more about him at Leopardstown. "I'd like to think he will improve plenty for this run at the Curragh and Pat Smullen was impressed with him."
