Harzand,info...tx

Pat Smullen said after leopardstown that he wouldn't handle Epsom and was a horse for the Irish Derby and was tailor made for the English St Ledger.

cheers,
   GL

Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 10, 2016 4:05 PM BST 
Yes, logging in --- changed my password just in case, and saved it separately to new computer.
Harzand --- Smullen - "Not suitable to Epsom (horse too heavy), Doncaster LEGER confident of a big run".

Catch Me ifyoucan  • April 10, 2016 5:34 PM BST 

HARZAND stuck to his task really well to grind down Idaho and win the Group Three Ballysax Stakes in Leopardstown.
Dermot Weld's Gallileo colt was scrubbed along in sixth of the seven runners well over two furlongs from home.

He was then hard driven by Pat Smullen but began to stay on strongly coming to the last furlong. At this stage Idaho had set sail for home under Colm O'Donoghue but they were picked off by the resoluteHarzand inside the final 150 yards. Harzand, the 2/1 favourite, won going away by a length and a quarter.

Aidan O'Brien's Idaho was returned second at 8/1 with stablemates Beacon Rock and Cook Islands well back in third and fourth respectively.
Dermot Weld said: "It was a nice performance by him. He's a progressive big colt - a nice big horse.
“They went a very good gallop for the ground and he came home very well. It was a really good trial, the best trial run in Ireland this year.
"I love the way he switches off and is very relaxed. He's still green and has a lot to learn. Pat said he quickened in two strides.

“We'll see how he comes out of the race and make a decision in the coming weeks. He's very effective on that ground.
“I'd worry about him on very firm ground but good ground is not a problem. I think he'll prove very soon that he's not confined to testing ground. He's a good-actioned horse.
“As the year progresses he'll make a lovely horse. The best is yet to come. He'll progress gradually and is not the finished article.
“He's crying out to go a mile-and-a-half.”

Pat Smullen said: "He showed a lot of quality there because I couldn't tactically go the pace in a very good, strong gallop early. I just was tactically caught for a bit of speed early, lack of experience probably as well.
"I had to sit and suffer and then wait for a little bit of racing room on the turn. As soon as I met the rising ground I was never in any doubt, whether you would believe that or not, but I had never any doubt that I was going to get the horse in front then because he stays extremely well and he was always going to get to the line.
"It was run at a very true pace, there was no hiding place today and that brought out the best in our horse.
"I think he is too big and heavy to go around Epsom. He could make into an Irish Derby horse but personally I think he could be a Doncaster Leger horse. I think he has got all the qualities to win that race.
"I think he will be alright on a sound surface but we would never want extremes in that he would never want it firm. Nice ground I think he would be fine. He's a good fluent-actioned horse but he gets through that ground well but I definitely think he would be better on nicer ground. "

This was the third race of Harzand's career. He won his maiden in Cork after a fifth place on debut in Gowran Park.

might be running now.

Earmarked for Irish Derby I heard

Harzand overcame a a last-minute scare to provide Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen with their first taste of Investec Derby glory at Epsom.
The handsome colt made a big impression in winning April's Ballysax Stakes in the Leopardstown mud and after a deluge of rain hit the Downs earlier in the week, he was well backed to emulate his brilliant sire Sea The Stars, who won the Epsom showpiece seven years ago. However, there was a late hindrance for his supporters when it emerged Harzand had spread a plate on the journey from Ireland, throwing his participation into doubt. The 13-2 chance was eventually given the green light, though, and was always travelling powerfully in the middle of the pack.

Smullen launched his challenge early in the straight and while 7-2 favourite US Army Ranger came storming down the middle of the track from a long way back, Harzand was always doing enough and held him off by a length and a half.
Smullen said: "It's a childhood dream to win this race and I've been at it a while now. The trouble we had with him this morning, I didn't know if he would get here, but it's a great team effort. I'm delighted for them. "He's a vastly improving horse and showed his true ability today. He found another gear when the second horse came to him."

Winning owner-breeder Aga Khan was claiming the Derby for a fifth time, having previously struck gold with the likes of the legendary Shergar (1981) and most recently Sinndar (2000). He said: "This is a major gift for everyone that works with me."

Weld has won every Classic in his homeland and numerous big prizes across the globe, but was thrilled to strike gold in the biggest Flat race of them all.
He said: "I won my first Classic here with Blue Wind (1981 Oaks) many moons ago, when I probably didn't have horses like this to win this great race.
"It's wonderful to do it. We had a huge worry this morning as he spread a plate travelling over and he was a very doubtful runner right up to about an hour (before the race). "But with the tremendous help of all my colleagues and my team, we made it.

"The Irish Derby will probably be his next race. I've always believed in this horse and I entered him in the Arc, so that must be a target."