Latest news with #AcapulcoBay
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Royal Ascot next on the agenda for 'gorgeous' Zahrann
The progressive, Johnny Murtagh-trained Zahrann came from last to first for an emphatic victory in the listed King George V Cup, the twin-feature at Leopardstown on Thursday night. Confidently handled by Ben Coen, the Night Of Thunder colt, in the familiar Aga Khan colours, circled the field on the home-turn, challenged down the outside and, quickening well, drifted left briefly before stretching clear to beat Arouet by two and a quarter lengths with favourite Acapulco Bay in third. 'He came out of his maiden win in Cork really well and we felt the mile and a half would suit him,' said Murtagh. 'He settled well and quickened well and is still improving. He's a gorgeous horse, with a great temperament. He came from the back and showed a good turn of foot. 'He's going the right way and we'll see how he comes out of the race. We have him pencilled-in for the Group 2 in Ascot (the King Edward VII Stakes) and I'll talk to the team and see what they want to do. He wouldn't be out of place over there.' In the other listed action, the Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Green Impact, sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, made all to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes in gutsy style, holding off market rival Currawood by a half-length. Shane Foley dictated the pace on the Wootton Bassett colt, saw off the challenge of Azada early in the straight and responded to pressure to hold on. 'It wasn't the plan to make the running, but Shane said nobody wanted to go on,' explained the winning trainer. 'He only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way but kept finding when he was joined. 'He has a great big stride and Shane has always wanted to go a mile and a half with him. He's a Wootton Bassett, but out of a Galileo mare. And he'll go straight to the Irish Derby now.' Harrington and Foley completed a double when Lady In Paris (20-1) proved a shock winner of the Boylesports Handicap, getting the better of Its All Peachy. Just as Bedtime Story did 12 months ago, Moments Of Joy (Wayne Lordan) booked her ticket to the Chesham at Royal Ascot by taking the opening, seven-furlong two-year-old fillies' maiden. The Ballydoyle second string, a daughter of Justify, displayed stamina and courage to get the better of Little Sure Shot, with a four-lengths gap back to the well-touted, Ryan Moore-ridden favourite Minerva. O'Brien's representative Chris Armstrong said: 'Aidan felt they were two lovely fillies coming here. Ryan's filly was very raw and Wayne's far more professional. They went a solid pace and this filly stays well. She's a fabulous, long-striding filly, with a great temperament, and, if she's come out of the race well, could be one for the Chesham.' Trainer Ger O'Leary declared, 'We'll have a party tonight and then think about going across the water (to Royal Ascot),' having seen Love Billy Boy hold favourite Fort Vega by a half-length in the seven-furlong apprentice handicap. He added: 'Wayne (Hassett) broke my heart last night in the Curragh (when he won on Mr Percy, at the expense of O'Leary's Jabbar), but said he'd make up for it tonight. It's his 19th birthday, so I'm delighted for everyone. This horse is in the Royal Hunt Cup but, if he doesn't get into it, there's a seven-furlong handicap on the Thursday.' O'Leary and owners the Purosangue Racing Syndicate doubled-up when 14-1 shot Bear Profit (Dylan Browne McMonagle) held off Artful Approach by a half-length in the second division of the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, the first division having gone to Dermot Weld's filly Tachos and Chris Hayes.
RTÉ News
11-05-2025
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Delacroix dashes to Derby Trial win at Leopardstown
Delacroix's Derby odds contracted after he delivered a dominant victory in the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes at Leopardstown. The son of Dubawi was a top-class juvenile last season and was one of three Aidan O'Brien-trained colts in the line up for the Group Three. Acapulco Bay and Cashel Rock were the other two, with Tennessee Stud, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph and also owned by Coolmore, joining the field alongside Juddmonte and Dermot Weld's Purview. Delacroix holds a raft of top level entries, including in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, and left the stalls the 1-3 favourite under Wayne Lordan to test his claims on those events. It was a test he passed with flying colours and having raced prominently, he had no trouble in accelerating away from his rivals to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Purview. Delacroix takes the Cashel Palace Hotel Derby Trial Stakes and cements claims for the Epsom Derby in June! ✅ @waynemlordan | @Ballydoyle — Leopardstown RC (@LeopardstownRC) May 11, 2025 "Wayne got a lovely lead into it, when he got after him a furlong and a half out the most impressive part was he really lengthened and quickened to the line," said Chris Armstrong, stable representative. "Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look which is a good sign there is plenty left in there. "It's all roads to Epsom now. His homework has been very good since here the last day. He's come forward lovely and all being well, he'll come forward again." Lordan, who was unseated en route to the start, added: "He was a bit fresh and when we got out on the track, he went a bit quicker than I wanted to go and when we met the rail gravity took over. "He was straight forward after that. He can go at a good tempo and quicken as well which is the sign of a good horse." Vera's Secret showed her rivals a clean pair of heels to win the Al Shira'aa Racing 'Mutamakina' Stakes. The six-year-old, trained by John Feane and ridden by Seamie Heffernan, was making her seasonal bow having last been seen coming home fifth in the Listed Concorde Stakes at Tipperary in October. She was an 11-2 chance to hit her stride instantly when stepping up to Group Three level, and quickly took the lead to make all of the running. It was a position she did not surrender as the race developed and in fact she only pulled further clear, eventually prevailing by four lengths from Gavin Cromwell's Fiery Lucy. "She's entered in the Lanwades Stud Stakes and later on in the year will probably come back here for the Matron Stakes, but that is a long way off," said the winning trainer. "She doesn't take too much running. "She will come on for that run today. She is over 600 kilos and takes plenty of work at home. She's a tough bit of stuff." Chicago Critic struck for Johnny Murtagh and Ben Coen when taking the Porsche In Support Of Breast Cancer Ireland Amethyst Stakes at 14-1. The complexion of the race changed when Aidan O'Brien's Diego Velazquez, the clear favourite, became very unsettled in the stalls and was withdrawn. A field of six therefore went forward to contest the Listed event, and under a patient ride it was the chestnut who came to the fore by a length and three-quarters. Coen said: "He's a talented horse. We've kind of been messing around a bit with trips for him from a mile to six (furlongs) but I think a mile and fast ground is ideal for him. "We didn't go quick today, and I had a good turn of foot towards the end. It's nice to get his head in front again."
The Herald Scotland
11-05-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Delacroix states Derby case with impressive Trial triumph
Acapulco Bay and Cashel Rock were the other two, with Tennessee Stud, trained by O'Brien's son Joseph and also owned by Coolmore, joining the field alongside Juddmonte and Dermot Weld's Purview. Delacroix holds a raft of top level entries, including in both the Epsom Derby and the Irish Derby, and left the stalls the 1-3 favourite under Wayne Lordan to test his claims on those events. It was a test he passed with flying colours and having raced prominently, he had no trouble in accelerating away from his rivals to score by two and three-quarter lengths from Purview. 'Wayne got a lovely lead into it, when he got after him a furlong and a half out the most impressive part was he really lengthened and quickened to the line,' said Chris Armstrong, stable representative. 'Wayne said going to the line he was having a good look which is a good sign there is plenty left in there. 'It's all roads to Epsom now. His homework has been very good since here the last day. He's come forward lovely and all being well, he'll come forward again.' Lordan, who was unseated en route to the start, added: 'He was a bit fresh and when we got out on the track, he went a bit quicker than I wanted to go and when we met the rail gravity took over. 'He was straight forward after that. He can go at a good tempo and quicken as well which is the sign of a good horse.' Delacroix's Derby odds were cut from 8-1 to 4-1 with Coral, while Paddy Power make him a 4-1 chance having previously priced him at 6-1.
