Ireland: Zhukova upsets Found in Alleged Stakes

Zhukova, a minor stakes winner at Galway, Ireland, last summer, scored an upset win in Sunday’s $53,500 Alleged Stakes at The Curragh in Ireland, spoiling the 2016 debut of Found, the winner of the $3 million Breeders’ Cup Turf at Keeneland last October.

Found, the 9-10 favorite, finished third in a field of five, beaten 7 3/4 lengths. Ridden by Ryan Moore, Found was third with a quarter-mile to go, but could not keep pace with 6-1 Zhukova. Success Days, last of 12 in the 2015 English Derby, finished second, 4 3/4 lengths behind Zhukova, and three lengths in front of Found.

Moore did not aggressively ride Found in the final furlong once beaten. The Alleged was run at 1 1/4 miles on a heavy turf course. Found is winless in two career starts on heavy turf.

Zhukova, ridden by Pat Smullen for trainer Dermot Weld, has won 3 of 5 starts for owner Chantal Consuelo Regalado-Gonzalez. By Fastnet Rock, Zhukova, 4, won the minor Oyster Stakes at Galway last September. The Alleged was the first start of 2016 for Zhukova.

There were two scratches from the Alleged, including Father Christmas, who was third in the Group 2 King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot last June. Aidan O’Brien trains Found and Father Christmas.

In the race preceding the Alleged, Onenightidreamed (9-1) won the $71,100 Gladness Stakes at seven furlongs for the second Group 3 stakes win of his career. Trained by Tommy Stack, Onenightidreamed was ridden by Wayne Lordan and finished a half-length in front of 12-1 Flight Risk.

Endless Drama, second in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas last May, was a notable scratch from the Gladness.