Latest news with #Zahrann

Leader Live
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Leader Live
Zahrann under consideration for King Edward VII challenge
Narrowly beaten on his Navan debut before bolting up at Cork, the Johnny Murtagh-trained three-year-old faced a significant step up in class for the Listed King George V Cup but overcame signs of inexperience to come from last to first and win going away in the colours of the late Aga Khan. Murtagh raised the option of a trip to Ascot in the immediate aftermath and Pat Downes, general manager at the Aga Khan's Irish studs, said on Tuesday: 'He will certainly have an entry in the King Edward and beyond that we're just going to see how he is over the next few days. Smooth from Zahrann in the Listed King George V Cup @LeopardstownRC 👇🏻 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2025 'He was obviously still a little bit raw when winning at Leopardstown and we'll just have to think what is in the best interests of the horse for his next race, but certainly the King Edward is a possibility as we speak now. 'We were delighted with him in Leopardstown, the race was run at a pretty sedate pace so he was a bit further back than ideal and came wide into the straight as well, so I thought he did well to pick them up and win well at the line.' The possibility of Zahrann being supplemented for the Irish Derby was also mooted, but given the Curragh Classic comes just nine days after his potential Royal Ascot engagement he appears highly unlikely to do both. 'It would be one or the other and I would say, given how he ran at Leopardstown it might be better to take a smaller step with him than a bigger step just at this point in his career,' Downes added. 'He's got some nice entries for the second half of the year and he's certainly a horse we would see being effective over 10 or 12 furlongs, so hopefully there's some good days ahead with him.' Zahrann could be part of a small but select team of horses to carry the famous green and red silks at the Royal meeting, with his stablemate Reyenzi also pencilled in alongside some major challengers from France. Reyenzi was first past the post in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes last month before being demoted to third by the stewards after causing interference. Downes said: 'The plan for Reyenzi at the moment is that he'll run in the Hampton Court. He ran around a bit the last day for sure, but it was only his third lifetime start and hopefully he'll have learned from that and he's been in good form since. 'Then the two main ones from France would be Zarigana in the Coronation Stakes and Candelari in the Gold Cup and we'll probably have a couple of others as well.'


The Herald Scotland
2 hours ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Zahrann under consideration for King Edward VII challenge
Murtagh raised the option of a trip to Ascot in the immediate aftermath and Pat Downes, general manager at the Aga Khan's Irish studs, said on Tuesday: 'He will certainly have an entry in the King Edward and beyond that we're just going to see how he is over the next few days. Smooth from Zahrann in the Listed King George V Cup @LeopardstownRC 👇🏻 — Racing TV (@RacingTV) June 5, 2025 'He was obviously still a little bit raw when winning at Leopardstown and we'll just have to think what is in the best interests of the horse for his next race, but certainly the King Edward is a possibility as we speak now. 'We were delighted with him in Leopardstown, the race was run at a pretty sedate pace so he was a bit further back than ideal and came wide into the straight as well, so I thought he did well to pick them up and win well at the line.' The possibility of Zahrann being supplemented for the Irish Derby was also mooted, but given the Curragh Classic comes just nine days after his potential Royal Ascot engagement he appears highly unlikely to do both. 'It would be one or the other and I would say, given how he ran at Leopardstown it might be better to take a smaller step with him than a bigger step just at this point in his career,' Downes added. 'He's got some nice entries for the second half of the year and he's certainly a horse we would see being effective over 10 or 12 furlongs, so hopefully there's some good days ahead with him.' Zahrann could be part of a small but select team of horses to carry the famous green and red silks at the Royal meeting, with his stablemate Reyenzi also pencilled in alongside some major challengers from France. Reyenzi (third right) in action at the Curragh (Brian Lawless/PA) Reyenzi was first past the post in the Group Three Gallinule Stakes last month before being demoted to third by the stewards after causing interference. Downes said: 'The plan for Reyenzi at the moment is that he'll run in the Hampton Court. He ran around a bit the last day for sure, but it was only his third lifetime start and hopefully he'll have learned from that and he's been in good form since. 'Then the two main ones from France would be Zarigana in the Coronation Stakes and Candelari in the Gold Cup and we'll probably have a couple of others as well.'

Rhyl Journal
5 days ago
- Sport
- Rhyl Journal
Murtagh predicts bright future for Leopardstown winner Zahrann
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 👇🏻 — 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 — 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.'


North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Murtagh predicts bright future for Leopardstown winner Zahrann
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 👇🏻 — 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 — 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.'


South Wales Guardian
5 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Murtagh predicts bright future for Leopardstown winner Zahrann
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 👇🏻 — 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 — 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.'