Zhukova holds off Army threat

The rest of the news from Leopardstown on day one of Irish Champions Weekend, where Zhukova struck for Dermot Weld.

Zhukova made a triumphant return from an absence of 122 days to foil Aidan O’Brien’s triple assault on the KPMG Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown.

Last seen winning at Naas in May, the Dermot Weld-trained four-year-old stormed clear of the O’Brien pace-setting Tree Of Knowledge over a furlong out to clinch victory.

It was a decisive move by Pat Smullen on Zhukova (5/2) as he got first run on O’Brien’s US Army Ranger.

Despite finishing strongly, the 8/11 favourite was still half a length down at the line. O’Brien’s other runner, Bondi Beach, was third.

“It was a good performance. It was her first run in four months,” said Weld.

“The plan is to give her one more run this year. The plan has always been the Group One Fillies and Mares on British Champions Weekend. I’ve had that in mind for her since April.

“She put in two lovely performances in the Blue Wind and Alleged Stakes, beating Found and then Bocca Baciata.

“She enjoyed her summer break and has come back to be what I expected her to be – a Group One filly before the end of the year.

“It’s equally pleasing to have bred her with my late mother. She’s out of Nightime who gave my mother a great …

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