CORAL.IE ALLEGED S.-Listed, €47,000, CUR, 4-3, 4yo/up, 10fT, 2:23.89, hy.
1–ZHUKOVA (IRE), 129, f, 4, Fastnet Rock (Aus)–Nightime (Ire) (G1SW-Ire, $299,507), by Galileo (Ire). (540,000gns RNA Ylg '13 TAOCT). O-Mrs C C Regalado-Gonzalez; B-Mrs C L Weld (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; T-Pat Smullen. €27,730. Lifetime Record: 5-3-0-0, $84,902.
2–Success Days (Ire), 136, c, 4, Jeremy–Malaica (Fr), by Roi Gironde (Ire). O-Robert Ng. €9,400.
3–Found (Ire), 133, f, 4, Galileo (Ire)–Red Evie (Ire), by Intikhab. O-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Susan Magnier. €4,700.
Margins: 4 3/4, 3, 3. Odds: 6.00, 4.50, 0.90.
If Dermot Weld had Classics in mind for Zhukova last spring, his instincts told him to wait even after she had registered a comprehensive maiden win over 10 furlongs at Navan in mid-June. Fourth when staying on upped to a mile and a half in the G3 Give Thanks S. at Cork in August, the bay was left alone until staging a winning return in the Listed Oyster S. at Galway also over 12 furlongs on her 3-year-old finale in September. Always likely to earn plenty of trainer Dermot Weld's time and attention as a daughter of his late mother Maguerite's G1 Irish 1000 Guineas heroine Nightime (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), she had reportedly thrived for her off-season break and came to the fore in these desperate conditions in which the Breeders' Cup Turf heroine Found floundered. Sticking close to the leader Success Days throughout, Zhukova had to muscle him out of the lead as he lugged left into her passing the quarter pole but once she had brushed him aside stayed on with real intent to record an authoritative win. “I couldn't believe how well she had done over the winter–she has improved out of all recognition,” jockey Pat Smullen commented. “Obviously, Found needed the run but this filly has a good long season ahead of her. We know she gets a mile and a half and goes through this ground, but she'll be better on better ground.” Weld is also looking ahead with relish. “She's a big mare who is going to make a gorgeous staying type as the year progresses,” he added. “She had been working very well and our horses are forward, but thiswas very high-class and the equivalent of a group 2. There aren't that many races for her, but the G3 Blue Wind S. is likely to be her next race. “She won on good-to-firm last year, but wouldn't want it firm. It's a great family and I'm delighted she's doing what she's doing.” Aidan O'Brien said of Found, “We think there is a lot of improvement to come and it's far from the end of the world. She'll be back for the [May 2] G3 Mooresbridge S. and then the [May 22] G1 Tattersalls Gold Cup, then we'll have look at the G1 Prince of Wales S. [at Royal Ascot June 15]. The plan is to have a break then and come back for a prep in the autumn before the Arc.” Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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