By Tom Frary
With 'TDN Rising Stars' The Pentagon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Delano Roosevelt (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Nelson (GB) (Frankel {GB}) an imposing collective presence in Sunday's G3 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial S. at Leopardstown, few expected this edition would fall to a colt outside of Aidan O'Brien's auspices. Caught up in Ballydoyle fever, they reckoned without the power of His Highness The Aga Khan's breeding operation to revitalise and renew old proven families and the emergence of a new force on the Irish middle-distance scene in Hazapour (Ire) (Shamardal). Out of a half-sister to the 2016 G1 English and Irish Derby hero Harzand (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}), the chestnut put his low-key juvenile form well behind him to come out best in a truly-run race against mostly race-fit rivals. Last seen finishing third in the nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. here in October, the 16-1 shot raced in fourth early before striking for home approaching the furlong pole. Staying on as Delano Roosevelt closed on the outer, he had 3/4 of a length to spare over that rival at the line, with a neck back to the strongly-supported 6-5 favourite The Pentagon in third. In doing so, he set up a tilt at the blue riband himself with trainer Dermot Weld keen to have a go at a much bigger Rosegreen target in Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
“He is a horse I've really liked. He is a nephew of Harzand, so therefore there is only one logical way to go with him to see if he can emulate his uncle and that's the plan,” he said. “This horse has very similar characteristics to Harzand. He is very tough and is a very genuine colt. He is very adaptable ground-wise.”
Like Harzand, Hazapour began his career with an off-the-board effort as he finished seventh in a seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh in August but by the time he had finished his juvenile campaign, he was way ahead of his esteemed family member at the same stage. After beating Hunting Horn (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) on soft ground over an extended mile in September at the Galway venue his trainer loves so much, the homebred was a touch underwhelming when chasing home two more Ballydoyle runners in Flag of Honour (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Giuseppe Garibaldi (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Eyrefield. There were only two rivals who started at bigger prices, so this was a few notches up from that form and with expected improvement he becomes another potential thorn in the side of the 2000 Guineas hero come the first Saturday in June.
“He is a very balanced colt,” Weld added. “I thought he did it very nicely when he won his maiden at Galway. The horse he beat easily of Aidan's has been running at a good level. He has developed over the winter and has progressed very nicely. He worked beautifully the other morning. He handles the ground well. He is a lovely horse to train. He is stayer with speed and this has always been the plan. He has a lovely way of galloping, as he gallops low to the ground and those horses tend to stay.”
Jockey Declan McDonogh, who is deputising for Pat Smullen, was in awe afterwards, “He travelled so smoothly–like a dream and I'm sure he'll come on for that again,” he commented. “He's a really nice horse.”
Pedigree Notes…
If Hazapour fails to see out Epsom's mile and a half, it will be a surprise as his family is replete with staying influences. His sire Shamardal got 10 1/2 furlongs well enough to win the G1 Prix du Jockey Club, but it is his distaff side which promises too much in the stamina department. The dam Hazarafa (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) captured the Listed Finale S. over 12 furlongs on The Curragh's stiff track, outstaying the previous year's G1 Irish Oaks runner-up Roses For the Lady (Ire) (Sadler's Wells) in the process. Her dam Hazariya (Ire) (Xaar {GB}) was pulled up injured in the 2005 Irish Oaks, having been second in the G3 Blue Wind S. before producing the aforementioned dual Derby winner Harzand as well as the G3 Silver Flash S. winner Harasiya (Ire). The latter stayed 10 furlongs well enough to be fourth in the G1 Pretty Polly S. despite being by Pivotal (GB), while Hazariya's half-sister Hazarista (Ire) (Barathea {Ire}) won the Blue Wind and was third in the G1 Irish Oaks and G1 Yorkshire Oaks. The family also includes the G1 British Champion Fillies & Mares S. heroine Seal of Approval (GB) (Authorized) and Humphrey Bogart (Ire), the son of sprinter Tagula (Ire) who was imparted with so much stamina from this family he managed to win the Listed Lingfield Derby Trial. Hazarafa's 2-year-old filly is by Camelot (GB), while she also has a yearling filly by Rock of Gibraltar (Ire). Click forthe free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
DERRINSTOWN STUD DERBY TRIAL S.-G3, €100,000, LEO, 5-13, 3yo, 10fT, 2:08.58, gd.
1–HAZAPOUR (IRE), 129, c, 3, by Shamardal
1st Dam: Hazarafa (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Daylami (Ire)
2nd Dam: Hazariya (Ire), by Xaar (GB)
3rd Dam: Hazaradjat (Ire), by Darshaan (GB)
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. O-H H The Aga Khan;
B-H H The Aga Khan's Studs SC (IRE); T-Dermot Weld; J-Declan
McDonogh. €59,000. Lifetime Record: 4-2-0-1, $89,927. Werk
Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Delano Roosevelt (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Again (Ire), by
Danehill Dancer (Ire). 'TDN Rising Star'.O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier & Michael Tabor; B-Orpendale & Chelston (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien. €20,000.
3–The Pentagon (Ire), 129, c, 3, Galileo (Ire)–Vadawina (Ire), by
Unfuwain. 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Derrick Smith, Susan Magnier
& Michael Tabor; B-Barronstown Stud (IRE); T-Aidan O'Brien.
€10,000.
Margins: 3/4, NK, 2 1/4. Odds: 16.00, 4.50, 1.20.
Also Ran: Platinum Warrior (Ire), Lethal Steps (GB), Nelson (Ire), Theobald (Ire), The King (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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