Johnny Murtagh hopes there is more to come from his three-year-old Zahrann when he steps up in grade on Irish Champions Weekend.
The Night Of Thunder colt is 8/1 with Sky Bet and Paddy Power for the Group 1 Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Saturday September 13, behind only Juddmonte International one-two Ombudsman and Delacroix in the betting.
Last time out he won the Group 3 Royal Whip Stakes over 10 furlongs at the Curragh, where he beat his 300/1 pacemaker Tangapour into second with odds-on favourite Los Angeles only fourth.
Speaking on the Nick Luck Daily Podcast on Tuesday he said: “He is coming forward, the first day he ran he surprised us. He wouldn’t show a lot at home, he’s very quiet, he just goes with his lead horse.
“But the first day he ran he was eyecatching, finishing strongly and ever since then he’s been on an upward curve.
“He has only improved and I don’t think we’ve got to the bottom of him yet.
“He’s pretty straightforward and I’m hoping there’s more there, but he will be tested in Leopardstown.”
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Murtagh respects both Ombudsman and Delacroix, particularly the former, but thinks ease in the ground could swing things more in his colt’s favour.
“I think the winner [Ombudsman] is a good horse,” Murtagh went on. “He probably went a little bit soon at Sandown, he got caught out, a bit too close to the pace, he gave Delacroix a chance.
“It would be interesting if both of them turned up.
“Zahrann might improve for a little bit of rain and easy side of good at Leopardstown would suit us.”
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