Latest news with #NewbridgeSilverwareRoyalWhipStakes
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Zahrann enhances credentials with Royal Whip victory
Zahrann produced a tremendous display to regain the winning thread and lead home a Johnny Murtagh one-two in the Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh. Impressive when winning twice earlier in the season, he missed out on a hat-trick when narrowly denied by Ralph Beckett's Amiloc in the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot. Despite the defeat, he left the Royal meeting with his reputation firmly enhanced, and as such was sent off 2-1 second-favourite behind Aidan O'Brien's odds-on market leader Los Angeles in his quest to get back to winning ways in this Group Three event. It was Murtagh's 300-1 outsider Tangapour who led the field into the final quarter-mile, but when Zahrann's jockey Ben Coen asked his mount to bravely squeeze up his stablemate's inner to make his winning run, he found a willing ally who displayed a race-winning turn of foot close home. He finished two-lengths clear of Tangapour who in turn tenaciously held off Joseph O'Brien's Galen for second, with Los Angeles unable to land a telling blow in fourth. And having passed this stern examination of his credentials, Murtagh is now excited to test Zahrann in Group One company, as he sets his sights on a run in the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes on 13 September. Murtagh said: "We wanted to see where we stood today. Ben went the brave man's route today, got the gap and he quickened up. "I haven't spoken to anybody yet, but hopefully we'll be able to go for the Irish Champion. Today was the test. "It looked in Ascot like he was a little bit slow, but I think a strong mile and a quarter should suit him around Leopardstown. He has to improve again, but he might. "He's a very relaxed horse that doesn't show much at home and is learning on the job. He's a typical Aga Khan horse and reminds me a bit of Sinndar that when he clicks into gear someday, he might realise how good he is. "He's still underdeveloped and I think he could be a really nice four-year-old."
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Jessica Harrington's Marazion can make belated mark at Tramore
There are two meetings today, both of the Flat variety, and the nap comes in Tramore, where Marazion can belatedly make her mark by taking the opening race, the Assembly Tech Irish EBF Fillies' Maiden. Jessica Harrington's filly has been disappointing thus far but there has been promise along the way. Last time out, she was off the pace much of the way but stayed on quite nicely in the closing stages to finish fourth behind the progressive Happy Pharaoh. Given the way she performed in that race and the nature of this race and track, it will be surprising if the selection is not sent forward this time. That being the case, she can keep her rivals at bay. Ledecky is entitled to improve from her debut effort in Cork, and Matrice has some claims, but this is an unmistakable opportunity for Marazion and she really ought to make the most of it. With a rating of 79, Kingstonian has obvious claims in the Griffin Auctioneers Maiden but there was much to be taken from the debut effort of So Golden, and the once-raced four-year-old filly can improve enough to land the spoils. In the Curragh, Los Angeles is favourite for the Group 3 Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes and while he has a distinct class edge over his rivals, preference is for Zahrann. The latter, trained by Johnny Murtagh, is on an upward curve and, despite still showing signs of greenness, she ran really well in a Group 2 at Royal Ascot. Taking on Los Angeles is quite a task, but that rival was certainly disappointing last time and has a question to answer now. That sways the verdict in favour of the potential improver. The Group 3 Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial has attracted just five runners and Absurde can upset likely favourite Puppet Master. Willie Mullins' seven-year-old was no match for Al Qareem on his most recent outing but prior to that he ran a superb race to finish a close third behind stablemate Illinois and the aforementioned Al Qareem in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester. Running to that form should be good enough to cope with today's rivals. Puppet Master was well beaten in the Irish Derby and must bounce back to form to play a leading role. Believe In Glory has leading claims in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nursery. Ken Condon's two-year-old filly has been a consistent sort this season and while she had to settle for third place on a recent trip to Beverley, she ran on nicely and that run suggested a step up to six furlongs would suit. She tries that trip this afternoon and it can have the desired effect of getting her off the mark for her career. On Sunday, the National Hunt returns to Tramore for the final day of the August meeting and the nap goes to Cabra Queen, who can get off the mark over fences by taking the Victoria House Tramore Mares' Beginners' Chase for local trainer Henry de Bromhead. Well beaten on her chasing debut, in mid-May, she performed much better on her second start, at Tipperary, where she was just touched off by Belle The Lioness. Likely to improve further for that experience, and with the return to this longer trip also a positive, she can take this at the expense of Littlebiggie. That latter made her chasing debut late last month and ran well to finish second behind Ma Belle Etoile. While the winner was well beaten here on Thursday night, the form received an earlier boost when Bynx won a handicap chase on her next start. Littlebiggie should have little trouble winning races in this sphere and is feared most.
RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Zahrann and Los Angeles set to clash at the Curragh
Zahrann could set up an exciting autumn if regaining the winning thread in the Newbridge Silverware Royal Whip Stakes at the Curragh on Saturday. Impressive when climbing the ladder earlier in the season, Johnny Murtagh's talented colt lost little in defeat when narrowly failing to reel in Amiloc at Royal Ascot and with Group One entries having been made for later in the season, he faces another examination of his potential as he takes on star older horse Los Angeles in this red-hot Group Three event. Murtagh said: "Everything has gone smoothly since Ascot. He ran great in the King Edward VII Stakes and he came out of it well. We gave him plenty of time to get over it and we're looking forward now to going to the Curragh. "It's a tough looking race but it will tell us where we're going for the rest of the season. We hope it goes well at the weekend and we will get that out of the way first then make a plan." The Aidan O'Brien-trained Los Angeles heads the market for the 10-furlong contest, but he is on a retrieval mission after disappointing when a well-beaten favourite in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at the Royal meeting. The proven quality in the line-up, last year's Irish Derby winner is unbeaten at this venue and connections will be hoping the return to Kildare proves inspirational in this stopping point en-route to the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe. O'Brien also looks to hold a strong hand in the Comer Group International Irish St Leger Trial, where Puppet Master has been tasked with enhancing the handler's fine record in the race. Willie Mullins will saddle the consistent Absurde in opposition, while Dallas Star will bid to continue Adrian Murray's dream run at the Curragh after last weekend's big-race double. Murray said: "He will be going with a chance. He's a good horse without being probably a top-draw horse, but a race like this should suit him. "He got within a couple of lengths of Kyprios earlier in the season and it takes a good horse to do that and I do think he will run a big race. "He's probably a little bit short of being that top, top horse, but you'd like to think he can be competitive and I think this trip will be key to him and his forte down the road. I guess we'll know more after the race on Saturday evening." Murray also has strong claims in the Listed Mitsubishi Electric Curragh Irish EBF Curragh Stakes with Ipanema Queen, who impressed over a furlong extra here on debut. Although struggling to make an impression in what has proven a strong renewal of the Albany Stakes, the daughter of Sands Of Mali bumped into an above-average type when second to Havana Anna in the Marwell Stakes at Naas and is fancied to hit the frame in her second outing at five furlongs. Murry added: "I expect her to run a nice race, the horses are all very well in themselves and I couldn't be happier with how they are going. "She's a course winner and when you've won there it's a plus. We're happy to let her take her chance and she's in great form."
