Zodiac Bear
Zodiac Bear was impressive in winning the seven-furlong maiden that opened proceedings at Leopardstown on Derby Trial Day. Settled back in the field early on from his wide draw by Ben Coen, he was seventh of the 11 runners as they raced to the end of the back straight off a moderate pace, fully six or seven lengths behind the leader. Still seventh as they raced around the home turn as his rider got lower in the saddle, Johnny Murtagh's horse picked up well from the top of the home straight. He stayed on well down the outside, hit the front just inside the furlong marker and cleared away to win by over four lengths.
The Kodi Bear gelding did well to come from as far back as he did off a moderate pace. To put that into context, his finishing speed was over 107% of his overall speed and the next five horses home occupied the first five places as they left the back straight. Unraced as a juvenile last season, Zodiac Bear had raced just once before this, he finished down the field at a big price on soft ground at The Curragh on the first day of this turf season, but he was green there and he tired on the soft ground. This was much more like it with that run under his belt, and on better ground and dropped down by a furlong in trip. Johnny Murtagh won this race with Sharlouk in 2023, and he was only just beaten next time in the listed Owenstown Stud Stakes over seven furlongs before going to Hong Kong and, renamed Young Champion, won two of his next three races. Zodiac Bear is a full brother to Tut Tut, and she got a mile but she won over seven furlongs. It may be that Johnny Murtagh's horse will be able to step back up to a mile in time, and he will be of interest wherever he goes next.
Leopardstown, 11th May 2025
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