Zoffany Sires Pair Of Promising Maiden Winners

Aga Khan homebred Simsir (3g Zoffany - Simawa, by Anabaa) defeated his highly-fancied stablemate to make a winning debut in Sunday’s ten furlong maiden at Cork.

The Michael Halford-trained bay was ridden towards the back of the field by Niall McCullagh, improving into mid-division from halfway and made good headway with two furlongs left to race. Running on well under hands and heels, he passed the favourite Hazran inside the final furlong and scored by two and a quarter lengths going away.

Simsir is a half-brother to Listed winner and Group 3 performer Silwana (Peintre Celebre), while their black-type dam is a half-sister to the outstanding racehorse Sinndar.

Simsir completed a double of maiden winners on the day for Zoffany, with Ziggle Pops (2c Zoffany - Loch Ma Naire, by Galileo) having taken the seven furlongs Novice Stakes at Brighton earlier that afternoon.

The Richard Hannon-trained colt was sent off the even money favourite under Sean Levey, who rode the chesnut to make all. Shaken up approaching the final furlong, he drew clear and extended his winning margin to five lengths on the line.

Owned by Sullivan Bloodstock in partnership with Merriebelle Irish Farm, Ziggle Pops was bred by St Albans Bloodstock out of a winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Simply Perfect (Danehill).