Zannda To Blow Hot In Blue Wind Test

Wednesday's G3 Irish National Stud EBF Blue Wind S. at Naas is named in honor of the former Dermot Weld incumbent who won the 1981 G1 Epsom Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks, and the Rosewell House conditioner has won three previous editions of the contest. He saddles Zannda (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}) in this stepping stone to Epsom and attempts to secure a record-equalling fourth renewal. Narrowly beaten in a 20-runner maiden at Leopardstown in her only juvenile start last October, His Highness The Aga Khan's homebred bay graduated back at the Foxrock track on sophomore return Apr. 12 and was 1 1/2 lengths shy of Jazzi Top (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) in the May 3 Listed Pretty Polly S. at Newmarket in her only other go last time. Fellow sophomore Pleascach (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) ran fourth when pitched into the June 29 G3 Grangecon S. at The Curragh on debut before breaking through in a Leopardstown maiden four days later. She travels up from Jim Bolger's Co. Kilkenny base returning from a second to the useful Bocca Baciata (Ire) (Big Bad Bob {Ire}) in the Apr. 18 Listed Salsabil S. at Navan. Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's hitherto unracedLoved (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) completes a trio from the Classic generation. The Aidan O'Brien trainee is a full-sister to three black-type performers, including the dual Group 2 winner and 2013 G1 Epsom Derby fourth Battle of Marengo (Ire).Euphrasia (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}), winner of the race in 2013, heads an older brigade which concedes 14 pounds to each of the juniors and goes postward coming off a fourth of four in the May 4 G3 Mooresbridge S. at The Curragh. 

“Euphrasia is in good form and she's come out of her race at the Curragh well,” explained trainer's son Joseph Murphy Jr. “The ground will suit, she'll be competitive, but obviously she's got to give lots of weight away to a couple of good 3-year-old fillies. We're happy with her at home and I think she's got a good chance.”