uk and ire racing
Group 1 first-timers Aisling Crowe reviews the Irish Champions Weekend and the Doncaster St Leger meeting which saw sires Elzaam and Australia, trainer Johnny Murtagh, breeder Karl Bowen, owner Fitzwilliam Racing, as well as jockeys Tom Marquand and Oisin Orr break their Group 1 ducks
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LZAAM HAS LIVED in the shadow of his more well-known Ballyhane Stud teammate Dandy Man for all of his stallion career but the Australian-bred son of Redoute’s Choice stepped into the limelight on Irish Champions Weekend thanks to the rousing triumph of his three-year-old daughter Champers Elysees in the Group 1 Matron Stakes at Leopardstown, his first progeny success at the highest level.
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Elzaam, an Australian-bred 12-year-old raced in Europe, and was placed in the Coventry and July Stakes (both Group 2) and finished third in the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes. At three he won the Listed Carnarvon Stakes and was fourth to Society Rock in the Group 1 Golden Jubilee at Royal Ascot. Champers Elysees is one of four blacktype winners sired by Elzaam so far, from a total of ten black-type performers. He is also the sire of Waitingfortheday, who
won the Group 3 Fairy Bridge Stakes (as did Champers Elysees), and Listed winners Clem Fandango and Playa De Puente, as well as the Group-placed duo of Great Prospector and Indicative Vote. In addition to a debut Group 1 winner for her sire, Champers Elysees’s victory was also a notable first Group 1 for her trainer Johnny Murtagh, after an illustrious career in the saddle which included three wins in the Matron, as well as for breeder Karl Bowen and owners Fitzwilliam Racing.
