Zaynab (No.20) and Declan McDonogh© Photo Healy Racing
Gordon Elliott and Bective Stud are a familiar combination in the winners’ enclosure at all the big National Hunt tracks, but they teamed up at the Curragh to land the opening Nando Parrado At The Irish National Stud Irish EBF Maiden with Zaynab
The Phoenix Of Spain filly is a half-sister to Zanahiyr who has given the same connections many good days over jumps, and the easy-to-back 10/1 chance showed a smart turn of foot in the closing stages.
Declan McDonogh ’s mount was caught in a pocket but really flew home inside the final 50 yards to pip 15/8 favourite Igor Stravinsky by a short-head. Monasterboice was prominent throughout just a half-a-length away in third.
McDonogh said, "I wanted to ride her like that, the last day she was in open ground and doing too much.
“I said to put the red hood on her today and she was a bus going to the start. She was so relaxed and calm.
“In the race I had cover and I just stayed in there. I know I was locked up and needed something to fall away on my left, and it did eventually. That's the way to ride her, she needs cover.
“The ground is so testing and I thought if I could get any bit of light at all she'd pick up. I only had half a furlong to do it but she was able to get through these conditions. She's a fine, big, strong filly with plenty of power.”
When asked if she could make a mark at Stakes level he added:- “I would think so, she might need a little bit more experience before she tackles that.
“I just said to Lisa (O'Neill) that we might run her in a hood and it might take her down a notch and make her go through the gears a little more gently.
“I was taken by her today and thought she had made good improvement from her first run.
“She gets through the ground very well and even later on in the Autumn we might come back to six when she has the experience, on soft ground.”
Quotes by Gary Carson
