Derby double: Celebrating their win in the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at the Curragh was (l-r) Harzand's jockey Pat Smullen, trainer Dermot Weld, owner The Aga Khan and Colm McLoughlin, sponsor (Photo: healyracing.ie)
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Harzand was unquestionably the star turn of last week’s action as he completed the Epsom-Curragh Derby double with a display that contained class and courage in equal measure and one which prompted thoughts about just how far he can go this year.
Similar to Epsom, Harzand was at his strongest when it mattered most. His bid for a Derby double in last Saturday’s feature looked to be in real peril when Idaho loomed upsides entering the last furlong. However, the Sea The Stars colt dug especially deep to assert again late on and give Dermot Weld his third Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory in the same week that he made it 4,000 career victories.
In short the progress that Harzand has made since winning a maiden a Cork over Easter has been striking and in all of his races to date, he has given the impression that he could yet have more to offer when required. An Arc de Triomphe bid is now his target and with his position as the star of the middle distance colt’s division now secure, his connections can look to Paris in the autumn with real confidence.
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The other star on show over the weekend was Minding who made it five Group 1 triumphs from her last six outings in the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes. Only four fillies took on Minding and the overwhelming favourite turned this into an ultimately one-sided affair after dealing with the gallant front runner Bocca Baciata in the last furlong. An Irish Oaks or Nassau Stakes bid will be next for Minding and she will almost certainly continue to dominate the fillies division for the rest of the season.
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Harzand was unquestionably the star turn of last week’s action as he completed the Epsom-Curragh Derby double with a display that contained class and courage in equal measure and one which prompted thoughts about just how far he can go this year.
Similar to Epsom, Harzand was at his strongest when it mattered most. His bid for a Derby double in last Saturday’s feature looked to be in real peril when Idaho loomed upsides entering the last furlong. However, the Sea The Stars colt dug especially deep to assert again late on and give Dermot Weld his third Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby victory in the same week that he made it 4,000 career victories.
In short the progress that Harzand has made since winning a maiden a Cork over Easter has been striking and in all of his races to date, he has given the impression that he could yet have more to offer when required. An Arc de Triomphe bid is now his target and with his position as the star of the middle distance colt’s division now secure, his connections can look to Paris in the autumn with real confidence.
The other star on show over the weekend was Minding who made it five Group 1 triumphs from her last six outings in the Sea The Stars Pretty Polly Stakes. Only four fillies took on Minding and the overwhelming favourite turned this into an ultimately one-sided affair after dealing with the gallant front runner Bocca Baciata in the last furlong. An Irish Oaks or Nassau Stakes bid will be next for Minding and she will almost certainly continue to dominate the fillies division for the rest of the season.
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