Zawraq back on track

SMULLEN’S DERBY RIDE IS WINNING FITNESS FIGHT

ZAWRAQ has moved a step closer to lining up in Saturday’s Investec Derby, with big- race jockey Pat Smullen saying he believes the colt has more raw talent than his 2008 third-placed finisher Casual Conquest.

The Dermot Weld-trained colt showed significant improvement yesterday, having been lame on Tuesday when his team believe he knocked himself on his near foreleg.

Zawraq, owned by Sheik Hamdan Al Maktoum, appears to be winning his race to line up in the Classic and Smullen’s assessment is a ringing endorsement of his chances.

In 2008, the sixtime Irish champion jockey (right) turned into the Epsom straight poised to strike on Casual Conquest, who like Zawraq had only run twice before the Derby. He was ultimately overwhelmed by New Approach and Tartan Bearer. Smullen, 38, said: ‘ For five strides I thought it was going to happen for Casual Conquest but two very good horses quickened by him.

‘He ran a very courageous race but Zawraq is a better horse with a bit more natural talent and pace. I was very impressed with his maiden win on his only start as a two-yearold and I was always hopeful he would be top class.’

Zawraq’s only run this season was a three-and-a-half-length defeat of subsequent Irish 2000 Guineas winner Endless Drama at Leopardstown in April. Smullen said: ‘That suggested to me that a mile and a quarter would be no problem to him. The mile and a half is a little bit of an unknown but I would be very hopeful he would get

the trip. Hopefully Zawraq will put himself in a position where he can relax.

‘Horses which are not quite good enough and are under pressure early, using up energy, are the ones which don’t get home.’

Smullen finished 13th on his first Derby ride, Weld’s nonstaying 2000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend in 2003.

The mount came four years after Smullen took over as Weld’s stable jockey from Mick Kinane and the pair have forged a lasting partnership, with Smullen rejecting chances to transfer to Britain.

It was Weld who supplied Smullen’s biggest win, Grey Swallow in the 2004 Irish Derby.

Smullen said: ‘ I’d always wanted to win an Irish Derby and got to do that with Grey Swallow. For an Irish lad, that was a dream, but hopefully the dream of winning an Epsom Derby might be just around the corner.’

The Investec Derby on Saturday is part of the QIPCO British Champions Series. For tickets go to www.britishchampionsseries.com