A decision on whether dual Derby winner Harzand (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) races on as a 4-year-old is expected to be made over the next two weeks. Dermot Weld would no doubt be thrilled to train the colt for another season and he commented, “There has been no decision on whether he retires to stud or races next season and I'd say it will be a couple of weeks.” Reflecting on a season of highs and lows with the Aga Khan homebred Weld added. “He had a long hard season and was on the go since March. He won the two Derbies and then got struck into at Leopardstown. He was pretty sore but you never know with pain what it takes out of them. He's a very tough horse and while other horses would be laid up for weeks, he was never lame with the cuts and bruises.” Given his incident in the G1 QIPCO Irish Champion S. and his far from ideal preparation for the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe its possible we still haven't seen the best from Harzand and Weld is already plotting some potential targets for next year. “The Arc probably came a week too soon for him but if he does stay in training, he'd be a high class mile-and-a-half horse next year and we'd be looking at races like the [G1] King George and [G1] Coronation Cup.
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