Royal Ascot next on the agenda for 'gorgeous' Zahrann

The Night Of Thunder colt came from last to first to win the King George V Cup at Leopardstown

SMART EFFORT: Zahrann wins the King George V Cup in the hands of Ben Coen. Picture: Healy Racing

The progressive, Johnny Murtagh-trained Zahrann came from last to first for an emphatic victory in the listed King George V Cup, the twin-feature at Leopardstown on Thursday night.

Confidently handled by Ben Coen, the Night Of Thunder colt, in the familiar Aga Khan colours, circled the field on the home-turn, challenged down the outside and, quickening well, drifted left briefly before stretching clear to beat Arouet by two and a quarter lengths with favourite Acapulco Bay in third.

“He came out of his maiden win in Cork really well and we felt the mile and a half would suit him,” said Murtagh. “He settled well and quickened well and is still improving. He’s a gorgeous horse, with a great temperament. He came from the back and showed a good turn of foot.

“He’s going the right way and we’ll see how he comes out of the race. We have him pencilled-in for the Group 2 in Ascot (the King Edward VII Stakes) and I’ll talk to the team and see what they want to do. He wouldn’t be out of place over there.” 

In the other listed action, the Jessica Harrington-trained favourite Green Impact, sixth in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket last month, made all to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes in gutsy style, holding off market rival Currawood by a half-length.

Shane Foley dictated the pace on the Wootton Bassett colt, saw off the challenge of Azada early in the straight and responded to pressure to hold on.

“It wasn’t the plan to make the running, but Shane said nobody wanted to go on,” explained the winning trainer. “He only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way but kept finding when he was joined.

“He has a great big stride and Shane has always wanted to go a mile and a half with him. He’s a Wootton Bassett, but out of a Galileo mare. And he’ll go straight to the Irish Derby now.” 

Harrington and Foley completed a double when Lady In Paris (20-1) proved a shock winner of the Boylesports Handicap, getting the better of Its All Peachy.

Just as Bedtime Story did 12 months ago, Moments Of Joy (Wayne Lordan) booked her ticket to the Chesham at Royal Ascot by taking the opening, seven-furlong two-year-old fillies’ maiden.

The Ballydoyle second string, a daughter of Justify, displayed stamina and courage to get the better of Little Sure Shot, with a four-lengths gap back to the well-touted, Ryan Moore-ridden favourite Minerva.

O’Brien’s representative Chris Armstrong said: “Aidan felt they were two lovely fillies coming here. Ryan’s filly was very raw and Wayne’s far more professional. They went a solid pace and this filly stays well. She’s a fabulous, long-striding filly, with a great temperament, and, if she’s come out of the race well, could be one for the Chesham.” 

Trainer Ger O’Leary declared, “We’ll have a party tonight and then think about going across the water (to Royal Ascot),” having seen Love Billy Boy hold favourite Fort Vega by a half-length in the seven-furlong apprentice handicap.

He added: “Wayne (Hassett) broke my heart last night in the Curragh (when he won on Mr Percy, at the expense of O’Leary’s Jabbar), but said he’d make up for it tonight. It’s his 19th birthday, so I’m delighted for everyone. This horse is in the Royal Hunt Cup but, if he doesn’t get into it, there’s a seven-furlong handicap on the Thursday.” 

O’Leary and owners the Purosangue Racing Syndicate doubled-up when 14-1 shot Bear Profit (Dylan Browne McMonagle) held off Artful Approach by a half-length in the second division of the Bulmers Live At Leopardstown Handicap, the first division having gone to Dermot Weld’s filly Tachos and Chris Hayes.