Choisir’s Zihba Remains Unbeaten After Amethyst Test

[Wandering Eyes]

Coming into this engagement with older rivals on the back of wins over seven furlongs and this mile at Dundalk Dec. 22 and Mar. 23, Zihba (Ire) (Choisir {Aus}) took it all in his stride to book a possible ticket to the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas at The Curragh in 13 days’s time. Settled fourth early by Chris Hayes, the 5-2 favourite was committed approaching the furlong pole and led soon after en route to a 1 1/2-length success from Pincheck (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Sunday, Leopardstown, Ireland
AMETHYST S.-G3, €60,000, LEO, 5-13, 3yo/up, 8fT, 1:42.18, gd.
1–ZIHBA (IRE), 122, c, 3, by Choisir (Aus)
1st Dam: Fancy Vivid (Ire), by Galileo (Ire)
2nd Dam: Starchy (GB), by Cadeaux Genereux (GB)
3rd Dam: Sahara Star (GB), by Green Desert
1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN; 1ST GROUP WIN. (€62,000 Ylg ’16 TIRSEP). O-Britton/Werrett/McGuinness/ReidScott; B-Mark & Caroline Hanly (IRE); T-Fozzy Stack; J-Chris Hayes. €35,400. Lifetime Record: 3-3-0-0, $64,617. Werk Nick Rating: B+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
2–Pincheck (Ire), 135, g, 4, Invincible Spirit (Ire)–Arty Crafty, by Arch. (€370,000 Ylg ’15 GOFORB). O-Jon Kelly; B-Airlie Stud (IRE); T-Jessica Harrington. €12,000.
3–True Valour (Ire), 135, c, 4, Kodiac (GB)–Sutton Veny (Ire), by Acclamation (GB). (19,000gns Wlg ’14 TATFOA; €100,000 2yo ’16 GBMBR). O-Qatar Racing Ltd; B-P O’Rourke (IRE); T-Johnny Murtagh. €6,000.
Margins: 1HF, HF, 3/4. Odds: 2.50, 6.00, 3.00.
Also Ran: Tennessee Wildcat (Ire), Gordon Lord Byron (Ire), Tribal Beat (Ire), Brendan Brackan (Ire). Click for the Racing Post result or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.

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