Green Impact made the most of having his sights lowered when stamping his class on the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Glencairn Stakes at Leopardstown, to set up a second Classic bid and also give this weekend's Epsom hopefuls a boost.
Winner of a Group Two here last year from Derby favourite Delacroix, Jessica Harrington’s charge finished sixth to Charlie Appleby’s also-Epsom bound Ruling Court in the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on his reappearance and was the 11-8 favourite to take advantage of calmer waters in this nine-furlong Listed event.
Sent straight to the front by Shane Foley, the Marc Chan-owned Green Impact saw off his long-time pursuer Azada before then being challenged by Currawood, but had kept enough up his sleeve to prevail by half a length.
Harrington revealed the Curragh for the Irish Derby on 28 June will be the target, saying: "Nobody wanted to go on and he only dosses in front. Shane said he was squeezing him along all the way. When the other horse came to him it looked like he was going to go past him, but he keeps lengthening.
"All being well he’ll go straight to the Irish Derby. Shane can’t wait to see him run over a mile and a half.
"I know he’s by Wootton Bassett, but he’s out of a Galileo mare so you’d hope he will stay.
"I think he can go on any ground. That’s ideal for him, it’s good ground and there is no yielding in it."
Johnny Murtagh has big-race ambitions of his own for Zahrann after the promising colt came from last to first to land the King George V Cup.
A close second on his Navan debut before going one better at cramped odds at Cork, the son of Night Of Thunder – who races in the colours of the late Aga Khan – faced a significant rise in class for this mile-and-a-half Listed contest and was given plenty of time to find his feet during the early stages by jockey Ben Coen.
He was still at the rear of the nine-runner field rounding the home turn, but despite showing signs of inexperience when asked to mount his challenge, the 5-2 shot displayed a smart change of gear to run down his rivals and he was ultimately well on top as he passed the post two and a quarter lengths in front.
"He came out of Cork really well and we were happy coming here today. We thought a mile and a half would help him as well. He's not a slow horse, but he’s learning all the time," said Murtagh.
"The King Edward VII over a mile and a half at Royal Ascot could be a possibility, depending on how he comes out of this race, and if he won that you could definitely think about supplementing him for the Irish Derby.
"We’ll take it race by race, but the team supplemented one for the English Derby (Midak). He’s a progressive three-year-old and I said to them this is our Calandagan, who won the race in Ascot last year and was able to rock up in York (Juddmonte International) and in those big mile-and-a-quarter races.
"I’m hopeful this horse can keep improving right through the year and get right to the top."
Moments Of Joy may have earned herself a place on Aidan O'Brien’s Royal Ascot team after upsetting better-fancied stablemate Minerva in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden.
Minerva, a 1.5million guineas yearling purchase in October and a daughter of Frankel, was the 8-15 favourite to make a successful start to her career in the hands of Ryan Moore, with fellow Ballydoyle runner Moments Of Joy a 3-1 shot under Wayne Lordan.
While Minerva looked all at sea from an early stage, Justify filly Moments Of Joy battled her way to the front in the home straight and found more once challenged by Little Sure Shot to emerge victorious by half a length. Minerva got the hang of things late on to finish four lengths further behind in third.
Ballydoyle representative Chris Armstrong said: "Aidan felt they were two lovely fillies coming here and they have both never been away.
"Ryan’s filly was very green, but he really likes her. Even in the parade ring she was very green, but the way she finished off was a positive. Wayne’s filly was more professional. They went a solid pace, and it caught them out early.
"We’ll see how she comes out of this and she could be one for the Chesham. She’s a fine, big, scopey filly with a great temperament and there would be no trouble stepping up in trip."
