Latest news with #Zahrann
RTÉ News
3 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."
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Zahrann advertises big-race credentials in Royal Whip
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. A CRACKING result for @JohnnyMurtagh 🟩🟥 Zahrann overcomes some trouble in-running to lead home a stable one-two in the feature Royal Whip Stakes under @BenCoen2. What do we make of that run from Los Angeles? 👀@curraghrace — Racing TV (@RacingTV) August 16, 2025 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 September 13. 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. Trainer Johnny Murtagh was delighted with Zahrann (Niall Carson/PA) '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.'
South Wales Guardian
11-06-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
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.'
North Wales Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
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.'
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
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 (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.'
