Latest news with #Ascot-bound
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Awesome £650,000 horse with ‘a hell of an engine' instantly made Royal Ascot favourite after astonishing debut
They couldn't cut her price fast enough 'WOW!' Awesome £650,000 horse with 'a hell of an engine' instantly made Royal Ascot favourite after astonishing debut THIS awesome £650,000 horse with 'a hell of an engine' was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after an astonishing debut. Word had been strong for Karl Burke's Wathnan-owned two-year-old filly Zelaina ahead of her bow over 5f at Nottingham. 1 Zelaina was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after absolutely blistering debut at Nottingham Credit: Getty But even jockey James Doyle was taken aback by the ease with which she obliterated rivals after bursting out the gates. Making all, she sauntered over the line ahead of 4-1 Secret Oath, the three-quarter length margin of victory flattering the runner-up. Punters branded the breeze-up buy an 'absolute weapon' and said she was 'the one we were waiting for' - as bookies immediately made her favourite for the Queen Mary. Burke and Doyle teamed up to win it with Leovanni last year. And Zelaina is now Ascot-bound for the Group 2 on Wednesday, the second day of the five-day festival. Clearly buzzing afterwards, Wathnan's retained rider Doyle said: "She'd been doing the right things at home. "She wasn't 100 per cent coming here, she's a had a couple of things that meant she needed an easy time. "But Karl said she's very fast and she's shown she has an engine. "She caught me by surprise out the gates - then up into that stride and away she went. "She's quite hot so we'll do a few things to iron that out ahead of Ascot. "But she's got a hell of a big engine and a plenty of pace. "I was the last person to pull up but she just stood so I let her relax then just trotted her back. "She took quite a blow at the furlong pole but I expect her to come along fitness-wise. "She didn't have the perfect prep coming into today… so expect her to improve a lot." Bookies introduced Zelaina as 4-1 joint-fav alongside Lady Iman. But they were immediately forced to cut her and now she is a best 7-2 fav with the likes of William Hill. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Awesome £650,000 horse with ‘a hell of an engine' instantly made Royal Ascot favourite after astonishing debut
THIS awesome £650,000 horse with 'a hell of an engine' was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after an astonishing debut. Word had been strong for Karl Burke's Wathnan-owned two-year-old filly Zelaina ahead of her bow over 5f at Nottingham. 1 Zelaina was instantly made a Royal Ascot favourite after absolutely blistering debut at Nottingham Credit: Getty But even jockey James Doyle was taken aback by the ease with which she obliterated rivals after bursting out the gates. Making all, she sauntered over the line ahead of 4-1 Secret Oath, the three-quarter length margin of victory flattering the runner-up. Punters branded the breeze-up buy an 'absolute weapon' and said she was 'the one we were waiting for' - as bookies immediately made her favourite for the Queen Mary. Burke and Doyle teamed up to win it with Leovanni last year. And Zelaina is now Ascot-bound for the Group 2 on Wednesday, the second day of the five-day festival. Clearly buzzing afterwards, Wathnan's retained rider Doyle said: "She'd been doing the right things at home. "She wasn't 100 per cent coming here, she's a had a couple of things that meant she needed an easy time. "But Karl said she's very fast and she's shown she has an engine. Most read in Horse Racing "She caught me by surprise out the gates - then up into that stride and away she went. "She's quite hot so we'll do a few things to iron that out ahead of Ascot. "But she's got a hell of a big engine and a plenty of pace. "I was the last person to pull up but she just stood so I let her relax then just trotted her back. "She took quite a blow at the furlong pole but I expect her to come along fitness-wise. "She didn't have the perfect prep coming into today… so expect her to improve a lot." Bookies introduced Zelaina as 4-1 joint-fav alongside Lady Iman. But they were immediately forced to cut her and now she is a best 7-2 fav with the likes of William Hill. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Read more on the Irish Sun Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
Irish Examiner
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Pierre Royal should be tough to beat
The once-raced, Dermot Weld-trained Pierre Royal should be tough to beat in the INPBA Sponsored Gate June 2nd Maiden in Gowran Park this evening. This Moyglare-owned Kingman colt made his belated debut over course and distance just two weeks ago, attracting hefty late support and going off a strong 9/4 shot. Having tracked experienced, 88-rated Ballydoyle colt First Wave, Chris Hayes asked Pierre Royal to mount a challenge early in the straight but, unable to get on terms, was only able to plug on and fill second spot, beaten almost five lengths by his Royal Ascot-bound rival. But it's significant that the Weld's charge finished four lengths clear of the third, 85-rated Daler. With that experience under his belt, Pierre Royal is entitled to be more streetwise on this occasion and, from stall one, might be able to dictate things on this speed-favouring track. He sets a decent standard again Natalia Lupini's 74-rated Bishopton, second twice on the polytrack before finishing fifth to Shiota in a competitive three-year-old handicap in Naas last time. In the earlier Gowran Park Median Auction Fillies Maiden, Jessica Harrington, who enjoyed a welcome change of luck with Thrifty Of Digby in Roscommon on Monday, has prospects with seasonal debutant Edge Of Seventeen. Another to consider here is Ciaran Murphy's grey Staywitherjohnny who might reverse her debut form with Lady Lilac (second) from the course and distance maiden won by Dahlia Noir. But preference is for Inventress, from the in-form Paddy Twomey yard, a Mastercraftsman filly who looked raw on her debut in Cork two weeks ago. Sent off favourite, she filled the runner-up berth behind Joseph O'Brien's Dawn Spirit and, expected to improve, might be tough to beat here. O'Brien tends to do very well with fillies he sources in France and Britain. His Lemsairbat looks the one to beat in the @gowranpark1 On Twitter Fillies Race, which offers the biggest prize of the day. This four-year-old Bated Breath filly, successful at Compiegne and a €34,000 Arqana purchase, shaped with promise on her recent Irish debut in Sligo, finishing a close third to stable-companion Beset in a valuable fillies handicap. This looks an ideal opportunity for the Carriganog inmate. She gets the vote over Dermot Weld's three-year-old Deressa, winner of a course and distance maiden early last month.
