Zig Zag Zyggy (Kevin Manning) beating Fastar© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld and Kevin Manning teamed up at Naas to take the Smooth Daddy At Compas Stallions Handicap with Zig Zag Zyggy
The six-year-old gelding has only recently joined the Curragh trainer and was easy to back going off at 18/1 in this 17 runner sprint.
Manning’s mount had to overcome some trouble in running inside the final quarter mile but kept on well inside the final furlong holding off the challenge of Fastar by a neck. Sounds Of Spring was two and a half lengths back in third, while well-backed 5/2 favourite Power Under Me could find no extra inside the final furlong in fourth.
Weld said, “He joined us about six weeks ago and we are just learning about him. Everything worked out and he handled the ground. We’ll find something similar.
“That was a lovely ride from Kevin Manning - as they say, class is permanent!
“Colin was riding for Ger and nine stone is Oisin’s riding weight so we rang Kevin and he was available. Kevin has ridden Group winners for me and I felt this would be a right horse for him.
“I have a couple of horses for the owner and we go back many years. Jimmy (Long) is a great supporter of racing.”
The Rosewell House trainer enjoyed top level success last year with star fillies Tarnawa and Search For a Song and he reports both to be in good form ahead of another campaign.
“I’m in no hurry with the fillies. There will be lovely warm days later on for Tarnawa. Search For A Song has also wintered well and is in super form,” said Weld.
“Nowadays with so much big racing in the second part of the year, I tend to hit our peak in September, October, November.
“I’ve no plans at present where they will start off as it’s a long year and I’m in no hurry with them.
“We have a quality team of horses this year, much less in numbers by design but hopefully more quality than quantity.
“We are a couple of weeks behind some of the stables in fitness but it’s a long year and we tend to get better as the year goes on.”
