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Murtagh predicts bright future for Leopardstown winner Zahrann

Murtagh predicts bright future for Leopardstown winner Zahrann

Leader Live05-06-2025
A close second on his Navan debut before going one better at cramped odds at Cork, the son of Night Of Thunder – who races in the colours of the late Aga Khan – faced a significant rise in class for this mile-and-a-half Listed contest and was given plenty of time to find his feet during the early stages by jockey Ben Coen.
Smooth from Zahrann in the Listed King George V Cup @LeopardstownRC 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/UTeZPQY4py
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2025
He was still at the rear of the nine-runner field rounding the home turn, but despite showing signs of inexperience when asked to mount his challenge, Zahraan (5-2) displayed a smart change of gear to run down his rivals and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post two and a quarter lengths in front.
'He came out of Cork really well and we were happy coming here today. We thought a mile and a half would help him as well. He's not a slow horse, but he's learning all the time,' said Murtagh.
'The King Edward VII over a mile and a half at Royal Ascot could be a possibility, depending on how he comes out of this race, and if he won that you could definitely think about supplementing him for the Irish Derby.
Zahrann & @BenCoen2 after winning the King George V Cup @LeopardstownRC @JohnnyMurtagh @AgaKhanStuds pic.twitter.com/1x9u8F6EwA
— Irishracing.com Live (@IrishRacing365) June 5, 2025
'We'll take it race by race, but the team supplemented one for the English Derby (Midak). He's a progressive three-year-old and I said to them this is our Calandagan, who won the race in Ascot last year and was able to rock up in York (Juddmonte International) and in those big mile-and-a-quarter races.
'I'm hopeful this horse can keep improving right through the year and get right to the top.'
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Horse racing tips: ‘This is a seriously impressive animal' – Templegate's 11-2 NAP for day two of York
Horse racing tips: ‘This is a seriously impressive animal' – Templegate's 11-2 NAP for day two of York

Scottish Sun

time17 hours ago

  • Scottish Sun

Horse racing tips: ‘This is a seriously impressive animal' – Templegate's 11-2 NAP for day two of York

TEMPLEGATE'S TIPS Horse racing tips: 'This is a seriously impressive animal' – Templegate's 11-2 NAP for day two of York Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TEMPLEGATE tackles day two of the York Ebor Festival confident of bashing the bookies with his best racing tips - after landing a 5-1 NAP on day one. Back a horse by clicking their odds below. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up Bet £10 get £50 in free bets for racing with Tote - CLAIM HERE York Ebor Festival best free bet offers - CLICK HERE REMMOOZ (3.00 York, nap) Owen Burrows has a smart prospect on his hands in this son of Blue Point who was an impressive winner over course and distance last time out. There were a couple of today's rivals behind him that, including Sisyphean who has each-way claims again. Kevin Stott's mount enjoyed the quick ground there and that was just his handicap debut so there should be more to come. 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Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding
Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

South Wales Guardian

timea day ago

  • South Wales Guardian

Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

The grey was a 11-2 chance in the seven-furlong Group Three, and ran prominently from the off when racing in the slipstream of the leader May Angel in the early stages. In the last two furlongs the colt began to progress, and in the final furlong he established a lead that he then fought hard to maintain as Aidan O'Brien's Italy, the eventual runner-up, sought to gain ground before going down by a length and a half. Charlie Appleby's Distant Storm, the 11-10 favourite, pulled hard throughout the race and was eventually third. Balding said: 'He's a horse we've always liked from the moment he came into the yard and he was very well bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for not big money really (€80,000). 'He's a son of Night Of Thunder who has done everything right since the first day and we liked the way he won at Newbury and we were always keen to come here. 'I think PJ was quite taken by him and his attitude and maybe felt he had a little more left. 'I think he'll stay a mile no problem next year but we'll probably stick at seven this year.' Paddy Power make Gewan an 8-1 shot for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and Balding added: 'It's possible he could head to the Dewhurst next. 'There's a lot of two-year-old races to be run between now and then, anything is possible at the moment. I don't know if we've any better than him but other people probably have, so we'll see how things play out.' Italy could also be handed a Group One target in the future, with O'Brien satisfied with his performance. He said: 'He ran very well and he's a lovely, big horse. Ryan (Moore) said he jumped a little bit slow and the horse that jumped in front of him took him an inch or two back further than he wanted to be. 'Ryan said he had to expose him very early, but he ran a very good race, he's a lovely horse in the making and he will progress. 'There's many options for him. We had the choice of running here or in the Futurity Stakes (at the Curragh) and obviously we picked to come here. From the Futurity you can go to the National Stakes, but it depends what happens with the others.'

Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding
Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

Leader Live

timea day ago

  • Leader Live

Gewan secures Acomb honours for Andrew Balding

The grey was a 11-2 chance in the seven-furlong Group Three, and ran prominently from the off when racing in the slipstream of the leader May Angel in the early stages. In the last two furlongs the colt began to progress, and in the final furlong he established a lead that he then fought hard to maintain as Aidan O'Brien's Italy, the eventual runner-up, sought to gain ground before going down by a length and a half. Charlie Appleby's Distant Storm, the 11-10 favourite, pulled hard throughout the race and was eventually third. Balding said: 'He's a horse we've always liked from the moment he came into the yard and he was very well bought by Billy Jackson-Stops for not big money really (€80,000). 'He's a son of Night Of Thunder who has done everything right since the first day and we liked the way he won at Newbury and we were always keen to come here. 'I think PJ was quite taken by him and his attitude and maybe felt he had a little more left. 'I think he'll stay a mile no problem next year but we'll probably stick at seven this year.' Paddy Power make Gewan an 8-1 shot for the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October and Balding added: 'It's possible he could head to the Dewhurst next. 'There's a lot of two-year-old races to be run between now and then, anything is possible at the moment. I don't know if we've any better than him but other people probably have, so we'll see how things play out.' Italy could also be handed a Group One target in the future, with O'Brien satisfied with his performance. He said: 'He ran very well and he's a lovely, big horse. Ryan (Moore) said he jumped a little bit slow and the horse that jumped in front of him took him an inch or two back further than he wanted to be. 'Ryan said he had to expose him very early, but he ran a very good race, he's a lovely horse in the making and he will progress. 'There's many options for him. We had the choice of running here or in the Futurity Stakes (at the Curragh) and obviously we picked to come here. From the Futurity you can go to the National Stakes, but it depends what happens with the others.'

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