Zaur lunges late to land gamble

Zaur landed a nice touch when collaring front-runner Mullacash Buzz in the closing stages of the first division of the 47-65 apprentice handicap over seven furlongs at Gowran Park.

Mullacash Buzz attempted to make all and had his rivals at work early in the straight but the distress signals started to go out inside the final furlong.

Zaur had chased the front-runner throughout and stuck on well for Wesley Joyce in the closing stages to get up for a half-length victory at odds of 6/1.

It was a welcome winner for local trainer Michael Butler, his first in over a year, and the Requinto gelding was well supported from 25/1 this morning.

Joyce said afterwards:- “Jack’s horse (Mullacash Buzz) usually stays going. I wanted to follow him and pull out in the straight.

“He picked up really well and kept going to the line. He needed every yard of the seven furlongs.”

The winner was making his eighth career outing and had suffered a nasty incident on his last visit to the track in June, when brought down inside the final furlong.

(Quotes by Alan Magee)