Zhukova to fore as ground makes Found look ordinary

The old saying that pace makes the race got swamped at the Curragh yesterday when ground made Found look ordinary in her first start of 2016.

Last season's Breeders' Cup heroine started a shade off odds-on for the Listed Coral Alleged Stakes and could finish only third as Zhukova ran-out a wide-margin winner to put a fresh sheen on another saying about breeding beating feeding. Zhukova is a daughter of Nightime, who in 2006 landed the Irish 1,000 Guineas by six lengths on heavy going for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

A decade later Nightime’s daughter put in a career-best performance on ground which was also officially “heavy” but which was so testing throughout the afternoon that even sprinters finished like tired National Hunt stayers.

It was that context that later made US Army Ranger’s winning debut so eye-catching and Found’s stable companion was cut to 10/1 for the Derby after landing a maiden which Ruler Of The World won in 2013 just 10 weeks before he won at Epsom.

"He's been only half-speeding at home on the bridle and so the plan was to drop him in and educate him," said Aidan O'Brien, who welcomed Ryan Moore in on the winner. "That's the first serious bit he's been asked and Ryan said he didn't have to go to the final gear on him. I'd imagine he'll have one more run if he's to run in the Derby."

Ground

Regally bred, US Ranger’s victory was all the more meritorious since it came on ground of a speciality nature which was summed up by trainer ‘Fozzy’ Stack after OnenightIdreamed landed the Group Three Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes.

“The ground levelled the playing field. In terms of ratings and penalties, he had no chance but everything got evened out by conditions he loves,” he said.

Zhukova’s passion for such ground may not be as obvious but she looked a significantly improved performer by sluicing almost five lengths clear of the colt Success Days, with Found struggling in third.

“When I sat up on her at home I couldn’t believe how much she’d improved since last season,” reported Smullen afterwards, while Weld wondered aloud if perhaps Zhukova’s Listed winning performance might have been otherwise worthy of greater recognition.

“It was an excellent renewal of the race and it wouldn’t look out of place as a Group Two,” he said. “She handled that ground very well and it is forwards and upwards with her. It’s hard to find a suitable race for her next but the Blue Wind might be a good suggestion.”

Aidan O’Brien forgave Found’s performance. “She was too free and you have to relax on that ground. But the plan was always to give her two starts before the Tattersalls and she will come forward from that.”

O’Brien withdrew his other declared runner in the Alleged, Father Christmas, due to the change in ground conditions.

Moore was also out of luck in the Gladness aboard Dick Whittington and it was the 9/1 OnenightIdreamed who comprehensively stepped up on his Lincolnshire effort behind Sruthan a fortnight previously.

Favourite

That one started favourite for the Group Three feature but the furlong shorter trip didn’t appear to suit Sruthan and it was Wayne Lordan who ultimately forced the winner home half a length clear of Flight Risk.

“He is a willing horse in fairness and there is a Listed race in Cork in a couple of weeks for him. There’s also the Amethyst Stakes. But it all depends if it keeps raining,” Stack added. “When it’s dry, he’ll be on his summer holidays!”