Zurich had a lovely break in the paddocks before heading into pre-training in July. He moved over to Henry de Bromhead’s at the end of September and has settled in very well – we hope to have him on the racecourse in November. We have done very well with our previous purchases from France, including last season’s black-type hurdler Pastorale, and we hope Zurich can prove to be a very smart performer indeed when sent over fences this season.
A strong, imposing individual, standing at over 16’2, Zurich made a winning hurdling debut at Pau on New Year’s Eve.
He had gone close on his first of two starts in bumpers earlier in the season, but was given time to mature and, returning from a break, he took a considerable step forward to score at Pau. Encountering very soft ground for the first time, he jumped fluently and travelled noticeably well through the race, before showing a fine attitude up the home straight.
The third had won a level-weights contest by 9L on his previous start and is rated 117, while the fourth is rated 118 and had finished fourth and fifth in Grade 3/Listed contests at Auteuil earlier in the season, so it looked a well above-average race for the grade.
Our sole purchase from Pau’s meeting last year, Pastorale, has done very well since switching to Ireland, gaining black type on her second start for Henry de Bromhead when third in Listed company last month and she looks a very exciting prospect going forward.
Zurich’s sire, Doctor Dino, stands at €22,000 and his stats remain outstanding. 39% of his runners in GB & Ire last season were rated 125+ and 12% rated 150+, and his tough and classy progeny are headed by the likes of State Man, Sharjah and Sceau Royal. From his crop of five year olds alone, he already has double-figures of black-type performers and had his latest Grade 1 winner with Dinoblue at Leopardstown over Christmas.
There is plenty of class on the dam’s side. A first foal, Zurich is out of a winning hurdler, herself a half-sister to two black-type performers in France, as well as to the granddam of the high-class, Grade 2 winner Botox Has. Zurich’s granddam is a half-sister to dual Grade 2-winning hurdler Starzaan and to Group 1 Prix du Jockey-Club third Sestino.
Picked out by the French Racing newspaper ParisTurf as one of the eyecatchers of the month when he ran in Pau, he really looks a chaser in the making and hopefully he has a very big career ahead of him!
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ZURICH (FR)
DOCTOR DINO (FR)
MUHTATHIR (GB)
ELMAAMUL (USA)
1987
1995
MAJMU (USA)
1988
2002
LOGICA (IRE)
PRIOLO (USA)
1994
1994
SALAGANGAI (GB)
1982
YEAR
ZUREKA (FR)
ZANZIBARI (USA)
SMART STRIKE (CAN)
1992
2007
ZINZIBERINE (USA)
2000
2013
COSPICUA (IRE)
HIGH ESTATE (GB)
1986
1994
STELLINA (IRE)
1988
All shares include the following benefits:
Busy and varied Social Diary
Alongside regular visits to Henry de Bromhead’s yard during the syndicate term, the Pimlico Racing Ireland Social Diary includes a raceday picnic at The Curragh, a tour of the Irish National Stud and a day’s racing at the Dublin Racing Festival*.
Registered as an Owner with HRI
Each member will be registered as a member of the Pimlico Racing syndicate with HRI, together with their percentage share.
Owners Badge on Racedays
Every time your horse runs, you’ll receive a guaranteed complimentary badge. Extra badges will usually be available at a discounted rate.
Annual Owners’ Dinner
All shareholders (and a plus one) are invited to our End of Season Dinner*
Equal share of all prize-money won/sale proceeds
You’ll receive your full share of all prize-money won by your horse during the syndicate term, as well as a share of any sale proceeds
Having started training at the turn of the millennium, Henry rapidly established himself as a leading force in the National Hunt ranks in Ireland and two decades on, the list of races that have gone the way of the County Waterford-based handler is hugely impressive.
A record-breaking Cheltenham Festival, during which Henry had six winners that included the Champion Hurdle, Champion Chase and Gold Cup, was swiftly followed by a famous 1-2 in the Grand National, providing further evidence of a yard that continues at the very top of its game.
Henry has already trained many winners for us in the Pimlico Racing silks and we are delighted to have three horses in training (Pastorale, Zurich and Mystic Sage) with Henry for 2024.
You can see more about us on Henry’s website – please click here to visit now
