Zelaina rockets into Queen Mary picture
Just like last year's hero, Zelaina, a £650,000 breeze-up buy, is owned by Wathnan Racing and she may have propelled herself to the top of their pecking order.
Burke, who also won the PricedUp Pushes EBF Maiden Fillies' Stakes two years ago with Bright Diamond who went on to finish third in the Queen Mary, had warned prior to the race the even-money favourite had even missed 10 days' work prior to the race.
Winning jockey James Doyle said of the two-and-three-quarter-length winner: 'She'd been doing the right things at home but Karl had had to give her an easy time leading into this so we were worried about fitness.
'She's shown at the breeze and at home that she's got an engine and she caught me by surprise out the gates, she must have got a few lengths, got up into that stride and away she went.
'She's quite hot, so we'll do a few little things to iron that out going into Ascot.
'You'd love to get a lead but when they have that much pace it is hard to do that. She had a blow and like Karl said she'd have a little niggle so I'd expect her to come on.
'It will be the Queen Mary I'd guess and I suppose she was a bit more impressive than Leovanni.'
Zelaina is now 4-1 joint-favourite for the Queen Mary alongside the Ger Lyons-trained Lady Iman.
Burke told Racing TV: 'She's very quick. If it wasn't for the little setback I'd have been very disappointed with anything other than a win. She'll come on for that.
'Leovanni was a different type, a bit more mature. This one isn't bad, she just likes to get on with things.
'If we can get her there in the form I think we can I'll be very happy.'
The Leyburn handler had already won the PricedUp Daily Sports Boosts Novice Stakes with another expensive newcomer in Reciprocated, but his 14-1 success was much less expected.
Burke said: 'I didn't expect him to win today, I'll be honest, as it looked a very hot race on paper.
'I said to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid (owner) this morning that I thought he'd run well and he's a lovely horse, but I didn't think he was capable of doing that first time.
'There's plenty of improvement in him so the future's good for him I think.
'It was a horrible draw, you hate being on the wing with two-year-olds, but I went through the race with Cliff (Lee) and it worked out well.
'I think he'll be better with a bit more cut in the ground and over seven furlongs as well.
'I don't think he's an Ascot two-year-old, but I'll speak to Sheikh Mohammed Obaid, I think he's more a July Stakes/Goodwood type.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
11 hours ago
- The Sun
Jockey Jake Coen rushed to hospital and racing delayed after parade ring incident
'NASTY' FALL He was said to be moving and talking JOCKEY Jake Coen has been rushed to hospital after a terrifying parade ring incident. Racing at Punchestown was delayed while the jumps jockey was attended to. A post from IHRB Stewards on X confirmed a delay while a message posted on Irish Racing's page read: "Delay to the first race at Punchestown as Jake Coen is receiving medical attention following his fall from Arch Empire in the chute leaving the parade ring." Racing TV presenter Kevin O'Ryan said: "Jake is moving everything and he is talking and fully conscious, which he has been from the word go. "He has been taken to Tallaght Hospital as a precautionary measure. "But he is fully conscious and moving everything after that nasty incident." The incident came before the second race at Irish track Punchestown on Epsom Derby day. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who:
Powys County Times
11 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Flora Of Bermuda joins Wathnan team ahead of Ascot
Wathnan Racing have added Andrew Balding's Flora Of Bermuda to their growing team of stars. The Emir of Qatar's operation are no strangers to racing's transfer market and have now swooped for the Group Three winner who has become a real player on the sprinting scene. Third behind the Wathnan-owned Kind Of Blue at Ascot on British Champions Day, she got within a neck of Inisherin at York on her comeback run in the 1895 Duke Of York Clipper Stakes and is short as 16-1 for the King Charles III Stakes and 12-1 Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes at Royal Ascot. Wathnan's Racing Adviser Richard Brown said: 'We were impressed with her comeback run at York, and it looks as if she can hold her own against the very best. 'Andrew and his team have done a fine job with her, campaigning her with great consistency in the highest class. With luck, one of these big ones will fall her way. She certainly won't fail for lack of courage.'
Telegraph
a day ago
- Telegraph
The Betfred Derby – Runner-by-runner guide and tips
The Derby, run over 1m 4f around the twists, turns and undulations of Epsom, is a true test of the thoroughbred, examining a horse's speed, stamina and balance. First staged in 1780, it's one of the world's most prestigious races. Sponsored by Betfred, this famous Classic carries prize money of £1,500,000, of which just over £900,000 goes to the winner. This year's renewal has attracted 19 runners, three of them trained by Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race a record 10 times. It's live on ITV1 and Racing TV. Odds provided by Betfred and correct at the time of writing. Stars denote strength of selection (max 5). If you already have a Betfred account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this week's racing, check out more free bets from the best betting sites, reviewed by our experts. Betfred Derby – 3.30pm, Saturday Ron Wood's Betfred Derby verdict This year's Derby is wide open. The favourite Delacroix is no standout on form, the 2,000 Guineas winner Ruling Court is stepping up half a mile in trip and The Lion In Winter belatedly needs to build on his two-year-old promise. The last two could probably do with the rain staying away, an unsettled weather forecast perhaps influencing Ryan Moore's decision to give up the ride on The Lion In Winter in favour of Delacroix. Pride Of Arras and Damysus, the Dante Stakes winner and runner-up, appeal most of those towards the head of the betting, but the form of the York race doesn't look robust, as there was a muddling pace and the first 10 finishers were covered by just six lengths at the line. There are plenty of runners who appeal at big prices and this feels like a Derby in which it's worth taking a chance on some outsiders. Midak (16/1), TENNESSEE STUD (33/1) and Lazy Griff (100/1) appeal most on that score. It's Tennessee Stud who is my selection. Ignore his defeat behind Delacroix on his reappearance at Leopardstown. The winner was race-fit whereas the selection had been given an extended break and is a big horse who would have needed the outing. Plus it wasn't a truly run race. This test promises to bring out more in him, given he had the stamina to win a Group 1 contest over 1m 2f on testing ground as a juvenile, and the Derby has been the aim since then. Betfred Derby – Guide to runners and odds Delacroix (14) – 3/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Ryan Moore: Has won both starts in 1m 2f Group 3 Derby trials at Leopardstown this year, quickening off a steady pace most recently. This requires more, but he's a half-brother to a Group 1 winner over 1m 6f and should be fine over the longer trip. He is the choice of Ryan Moore, who has ridden the last two Derby winners (and has won the race four times overall), over the other two runners for Aidan O'Brien, who has won the race a record 10 times. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Ruling Court (7) – 7/2 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Appleby; Jockey: William Buick: Finished behind The Lion In Winter over 7f in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York last summer, but improved to win the 2,000 Guineas – the season's first Classic – over a mile at Newmarket in May. He is by Justify, the sire of last year's Derby winner, and the dam's sire, High Chaparral, won the Derby in 2002, although a deeper dive into his pedigree suggests he's not a sure stayer. Slow ground would be a worry. ⭐⭐⭐ Pride Of Arras (16) – 5/1 with Betfred Trainer: Ralph Beckett; Jockey: Rossa Ryan: On his sole start as a two-year-old, he landed a Sandown maiden that his trainer won in 2021 with the subsequent Derby third and Group 1 winner Westover. Followed up to win the 1m 2f Group 2 Dante Stakes at York on his reappearance, quickening off a steady pace. Bred to stay on the dam's side of his pedigree, his striding data gives him every chance of getting the trip as well, for all that slow ground would be a question mark. The Dante form doesn't look strong, but he's open to further improvement. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ The Lion In Winter (19) – 8/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Colin Keane: By the 2009 Derby winner Sea The Stars and his dam won over 1m 4f. Looked a top-class prospect in winning his first two starts over 7f last year, notably the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York (when Ruling Court was third). However, his season was cut short early and he failed to make the 2,000 Guineas. Unplaced behind three of these rivals on his belated return in the Dante at York, where he pulled hard, met some trouble late on and wasn't given an unduly hard ride. He was said to need the run and his trainer's last two winners of this race were bouncing back from disappointing reappearances. Ryan Moore has deserted him for Delacroix and slow ground would be a question mark, but he shouldn't be written off. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Damysus (15) – 12/1 with Betfred Trainer: John and Thady Gosden; Jockey: James Doyle: By the great Frankel out of a 1m 4f Group 2 winner. Improving with racing, most recently finishing second to Pride Of Arras in the 1m 2f Dante Stakes at York. Didn't help himself by hanging left, so he will need to be more professional to handle this trickier track, with its camber in the straight, while the Dante form may not be reliable. But he's still learning and could progress enough for the greater stamina test. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Lambourn (10) – 12/1 with Betfred Trainer: Aidan O'Brien; Jockey: Wayne Lordan: By his connections' 2014 Derby winner Australia. Runner-up to stablemate Delacroix over 1m 2f on reappearance, before winning Group 3 Chester Vase over this trip. Needs to improve a lot. ⭐⭐⭐ Stanhope Gardens (2) – 16/1 with Betfred Trainer: Ralph Beckett; Jockey: Hector Crouch: Ran green when third behind Ruling Court in a 7f maiden at Sandown on their debuts last year and later finished a close second to Delacroix in the Group 3 Autumn Stakes over a mile at Newmarket. Has had an unconventional prep, returning only two weeks ago to win what was little better than an egg-and-spoon race over a mile at Salisbury. His connections have been keen to get him here but he needs to improve, which he may do for this trip. ⭐⭐⭐ Midak (4) – 16/1 with Betfred Trainer: Francis-Henri Graffard; Jockey: Mickael Barzalona: French-trained runner who seems to have surprised his connections, as he wasn't originally entered in this race or some other big events but has been supplemented into this field for £75,000. Goes for the Aga Khan Studs and this year's Derby is being run in honour of the late owner, His Highness Aga Khan IV, whose five Derby winners include Shergar. Successful on all three starts in France, most recently the 1m 2½f Group 3 Prix Greffulhe at Saint-Cloud, which Mickael Barzalona won on Pour Moi before their Derby win in 2011. Not as flashy as some of these, but he'll stay well. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Nightwalker (5) – 25/1 with Betfred Trainer: John and Thady Gosden; Jockey: Tom Marquand: Another by Frankel and out of a half-sister to same connections' Logician (by Frankel), who won the St Leger over 1m 6½f. Looks to need this trip and more, most recently keeping on after getting behind in the 1m 2f Dante Stakes at York (behind two of these rivals). May not be fast enough, but his best is still to come. Now fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. ⭐⭐⭐ Tennessee Stud (12) – 33/1 with Betfred Trainer: Joseph O'Brien; Jockey: Dylan Browne McMonagle: Successful in a three-runner Group 1 race over 1m 2f on heavy ground in France last year (Green Storm second). That race was won the previous season by the same owner's Los Angeles, who was then third in this race and won the Irish Derby. This race has been the plan ever since France. Was beaten almost seven lengths into third by Delacroix at Leopardstown on his reappearance (1m 2f), but a steady early pace placed the emphasis on speed, and he will have needed the run, as his connections chose to skip the early Derby trials. Stamina looks like his game and he's a big horse who has improvement in him. Might not be the worst outsider. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tornado Alert (11) – 33/1 with Betfred Trainer: Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey: Oisin Murphy: Front-running fourth behind Ruling Court in the 2,000 Guineas over a mile at Newmarket on his reappearance. Evidently talented but it's hard to think he will see this out best, for all that there's stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree. ⭐⭐ New Ground (17) – 50/1 with Betfred Trainer: Henri-Francois Devin; Jockey: Alexis Pouchin: Like Midak, he's a French-trained runner who has been supplemented for £75,000. Needs to improve a good deal, having been beaten in two lesser races up to 1m 2f in France this year, but his connections think this step up in trip could be the answer. There is plenty of stamina on the dam's side of his pedigree. ⭐⭐⭐ Tuscan Hills (6) – 66/1 with Betfred Trainer: Raphael Freire; Jockey: David Egan: Late-May foal who won both starts over a mile last year, notably a Listed race on soft ground at Pontefract. Behind a few of these when only seventh in the Dante at York on his return, but did make a bit of a move in the straight, probably being asked to go too soon. Presumably he needed the run, but his stamina is questionable looking at the pedigree. ⭐ Sea Scout (18) – 100/1 with Betfred Trainer: Simon and Ed Crisford; Jockey: Harry Davies: Another by the 2009 winner Sea The Stars. Narrowly won 1m 2f Listed race here on reappearance, before fading behind a few of these in the Dante at York, where he took a keen hold. Hard to fancy. ⭐ Lazy Griff (3) – 100/1 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Johnston; Jockey: Christophe Soumillon: Beaten into second by Lambourn in the 1m 4f Chester Vase on his reappearance, but the winner was race-fit whereas this colt had reportedly missed a workout and was short of peak fitness. Plenty of improvement needed but he stays and won't mind rain, so he's worth considering at huge odds. ⭐ ⭐ ⭐⭐ Nightime Dancer (9) – 150/1 with Betfred Trainer: Richard Hannon; Jockey: Jamie Spencer: Raced wide into the straight when third in the Lingfield Derby Trial (the first two finishers are missing from this race) and it's possible the ground was too fast for him. Needs to do way more now, but he isn't dismissed. ⭐⭐ Green Storm (8) – 200/1 with Betfred Trainer: Charlie Johnston; Jockey: Billy Loughnane: Second of three behind Tennessee Stud in a Group 1 race over 1m 2f in France last year. Found 1m 1f too short when a well-beaten fourth in the Feilden Stakes at Newmarket on reappearance. His dam won a Group 2 race over 1m 4f and he can improve for this test, but he doesn't look good enough. ⭐⭐ Odds courtesy of Betfred and correct at time of writing. Royal Ascot is less than two weeks away. Find the best Royal Ascot free bets and betting offers Last 10 Derby winners Star ratings explained ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - confident selection ⭐⭐⭐⭐ - strong fancy ⭐⭐⭐ - fair claims ⭐⭐ - tentative choice ⭐ - minimum confidence If you want to find more odds and offers, take a look at our list of the best betting sites and free bets If you're looking for casino bonuses, we've ranked UK welcome offers here
