Latest news with #IrishStallionFarmsEBFGlencairnStakes
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Green Impact returns to winning ways at Leopardstown to set up Irish Derby bid
Green Impact made the most of having his sights lowered when stamping his class on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown, to set up a second Classic bid and also give this weekend's Epsom hopefuls a boost. Winner of a Group Two here last year from Derby favourite Delacroix, Jessica Harrington's charge finished sixth to Charlie Appleby's also-Epsom bound Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his reappearance and was the 11-8 favourite to take advantage of calmer waters in this nine-furlong Listed event. Sent straight to the front by Shane Foley, the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact saw off his long-time pursuer Azada before then being challenged by Currawood, but had kept enough up his sleeve to prevail by half a length. Harrington revealed the Curragh for the Irish Derby on 28 June will be the target, saying: "Nobody wanted to go on and he only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way. When the other horse came to him it looked like he was going to go past him, but he keeps lengthening. "All being well he'll go straight to the Irish Derby. Shane can't wait to see him run over a mile and a half. "I know he's by Wootton Bassett, but he's out of a Galileo mare so you'd hope he will stay. "I think he can go on any ground. That's ideal for him, it's good ground and there is no yielding in it." Johnny Murtagh has big-race ambitions of his own for Zahrann after the promising colt came from last to first to land the King George V Cup. 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. 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, the 5-2 shot 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. "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." Moments Of Joy may have earned herself a place on Aidan O'Brien's Royal Ascot team after upsetting better-fancied stablemate Minerva in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden. Minerva, a 1.5million guineas yearling purchase in October and a daughter of Frankel, was the 8-15 favourite to make a successful start to her career in the hands of Ryan Moore, with fellow Ballydoyle runner Moments Of Joy a 3-1 shot under Wayne Lordan. While Minerva looked all at sea from an early stage, Justify filly Moments Of Joy battled her way to the front in the home straight and found more once challenged by Little Sure Shot to emerge victorious by half a length. Minerva got the hang of things late on to finish four lengths further behind in third. Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong said: "Aidan felt they were two lovely fillies coming here and they have both never been away. "Ryan's filly was very green, but he really likes her. Even in the parade ring she was very green, but the way she finished off was a positive. Wayne's filly was more professional. They went a solid pace, and it caught them out early. "We'll see how she comes out of this and she could be one for the Chesham. She's a fine, big, scopey filly with a great temperament and there would be no trouble stepping up in trip."
Powys County Times
5 days ago
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Next stop the Curragh for Green Impact after Listed strike
Green Impact made the most of having his sights lowered when stamping his class on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown, to set up a second Classic bid and also give this weekend's Epsom hopefuls a boost. Winner of a Group Two here last year from Derby favourite Delacroix, Jessica Harrington's charge finished sixth to Charlie Appleby's also-Epsom bound Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his reappearance and was the 11-8 favourite to take advantage of calmer waters in this nine-furlong Listed event. Sent straight to the front by Shane Foley, the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact saw off his long-time pursuer Azada before then being challenged by Currawood, but had kept enough up his sleeve to prevail by half a length. Harrington revealed the Curragh for the Irish Derby on June 28 will be the target, saying: 'Nobody wanted to go on and he only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way. When the other horse came to him it looked like he was going to go past him, but he keeps lengthening. 'All being well he'll go straight to the Irish Derby. Shane can't wait to see him run over a mile and a half. 'I know he's by Wootton Bassett, but he's out of a Galileo mare so you'd hope he will stay. 'I think he can go on any ground. That's ideal for him, it's good ground and there is no yielding in it.'
Powys County Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Powys County Times
Green Impact putting intriguing formlines to the test at Leopardstown
Green Impact could give the Derby claims of Delacroix a timely boost at Leopardstown on Thursday, as he returns to action in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes after his respectable effort in the 2000 Guineas. Jessica Harrington's son of Wootton Bassett twice accounted for Aidan O'Brien's Epsom favourite as a two-year-old, including in the Group Two KPMG Champions Juvenile Stakes at this track last September, and stepped up to the highest level for his reappearance when taking a shot at Newmarket's opening Classic of the summer. Although only sixth behind another Derby contender, Charlie Appleby's Ruling Court, on the Rowley Mile, there were valid excuses on the day and connections retain the utmost belief in their runner as the high-class colt reverts to Listed company at a venue where he is unbeaten. 'It's a good race to start him back after the Guineas,' said Jamie McCalmont, racing manager to owner Marc Chan. 'He lost a front shoe coming down the hill at Newmarket and clearly didn't handle it, but on the other hand it was a very good race and he was sixth beaten six lengths and maybe if that hadn't happened he could have been fourth beaten three lengths. 'Without doubt, there is no question he is a smart performer, and hopefully this will prove a nice race for him.' Stablemate Norwalk Havoc will also run having scored at the track in Listed company in the autumn, with other notable names among the field of eight include Ger Lyons' Prix Niel third Bravais and Paddy Twomey's Currawood, who had his early-season momentum slightly checked at the Curragh recently. On the same card, nine go to post for the King George V Cup, with Acapulco Bay and Rock Of Cashel tasked with enhancing Aidan O'Brien's fine record in a race he has won for the last two seasons and five times in total.
