Weld happy with high flying Grey Swallow
He doesn’t over-rate his horses, doesn’t over-face them and satisfies himself pretty quickly where most fit into the scheme of things.
You simply could not remain at the top of the tree for as long as he has without knowing your business.
Yesterday morning, the affable Weld played host to the press for his annual Open Day. It very much ranks among the more pleasant assignments one has to ‘suffer’ in this game.
He’s friendly, courteous, and just downright good fun. Weld enjoys a laugh, but when it comes to his horses is deeply serious.
The drill is well established by now. Join up with D.K at 9.30 and then ferry across the Curragh in a fleet of vehicles to watch some 30 of his inmates bound up the Old Vic gallop.
Back to base for plenty of chat, before being invited inside Rosewell House for the obligatory cup of tea-coffee and the rest.
Classic winners Grey Swallow and the remarkable Vinnie Roe are clearly the current flagship horses for the ageless maestro.
“I am very pleased with Grey Swallow”, he said of the son of Daylami, who gave him one of his many great days when landing the Irish Derby at the Curragh last June.
That was the afternoon Grey Swallow came of age, finishing with a flourish, under an inspirational Pat Smullen drive, to beat Epsom Derby hero, North Light, by half a length.
He makes no effort to hide his enthusiasm for a colt he has always regarded as a star. “He’s totally relaxed and has matured a lot”, said Weld.
“He’s got strong, has improved physically and is carrying a shade too much condition at the moment.”
But while he harbours high hopes for his charge, Weld is under no illusions about the difficulty of the tasks that lie ahead. The likes of Azamour, Ouija Board and North Light have all stayed in training, for instance.
Said Weld: “I think this is the best year ever for four-year-olds. He could start off in the Mooresbridge Stakes (Curragh, Monday, May 2). He mightn’t be quite forward enough, however, and may wait for the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh instead.”
Weld, mindful of how tough it might be, has an open mind after that. “We will just see, obviously lots of big races, like the ’Arc, are open to him. But he just might have an American campaign, leading to the Breeders’ Cup.”
Mighty Vinnie Roe, now a seven-year-old, is again exciting his handler. He has taken the Irish Leger four times in-a-row and is the only horse to ever win the same pattern race on that many occasions.
Part of the overall plan is to make it five this season. And the Melbourne Cup again looms large on the horizon.
Twice Weld has won the race that brings Australia to a virtual standstill on that particular November Tuesday, with Vintage Crop and Media Puzzle. He remains the only northern hemisphere trainer to do so. In November, Vinnie Roe almost made it three, failing by a length and a quarter behind the 5lbs receiving Makybe Diva.
Said Weld: “He is more forward than in other years. He will start off in the Saval Beg Stakes (Leopardstown) and races like the Yorkshire Cup, Ascot Gold Cup, Irish Leger and the Melbourne Cup are all possibilities.
“I’m absolutely thrilled with the horse. He has a great will to win and, as long as he stays sound, there’s another big year in him.”
The other older horse worth noting is Cairdeas, who carries the colours of President Mary McAleese.
The son of Darshaan won twice last season and made a satisfactory reappearance when second, placed third following a stewards’ inquiry, behind Sublimity at the Curragh earlier in the month.
“He ran well first time back, fitness just caught him out”, said Weld. “We are looking at a Group race at Sandown on Saturday and if he doesn’t travel then could run in the Mooresbridge Stakes.”
He expects plenty from his three-year-olds. “We don’t have a big team, but I think a couple of them could be very nice.”
They are headed by Bobs Pride, already with two from two on the board this season. “He’s more like a four-year-old than a three-year-old”, remarked Weld.
The Group Two Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday, May 8 has been pencilled in as the likely next port-of-call.
“The horse is in great order and the Derrinstown looks next!”, said Weld. “The weather is so bad, though, that if the ground was soft he could go for the Irish 2000 Guineas. Soft ground would make it much more a test of stamina.”
Society Milliner, third to David Wachman’s Fracas at Leopardstown, is another for the short-list. He ran on well in the closing stages of that contest, but didn’t impress everyone with his high head carriage.
“That’s just the way he carries himself”, said Weld. “He wants good ground and I am very happy with him. He could run at Naas on Saturday. Any more rain and he will wait for Derrinstown day at Leopardstown.”
Merger, beaten three and a half lengths into second spot by Indesatchel, successful in the Greenham Stakes at Newbury on Saturday, on his return at the Curragh, is certain to visit the winner’s enclosure sooner rather than later.
Weld was confident his charge would score first time up and Merger went off a strong 5-4 favourite.
“He just met a better horse on the day”, accepted Weld. “We are now going to step him up from seven furlongs to ten furlongs and that should be interesting. He could go to Sandown for a Group Three on Friday, or else it will be a winners’ of one at Naas.”
The impressive looking Dream To Dress, a daughter of Theatrical, is a filly he likes a lot. “She’s a powerful, big mare.” Dream to Dress caught the eye when a promising third to Aidan O’Brien’s Emerald Cat at Leopardstown and plenty of improvement is expected.
“She hasn’t come at all yet and is potentially very good”, said Weld. “I hope she stays twelve furlongs, but is probably best suited to ten.”
Then there’s the delightfully named Danehill filly, Utterly Heaven. She made her debut at the Curragh 16 days ago, finishing fourth behind John Oxx’s Hazariya.
“She wouldn’t be the worst maiden in the country”, smiled Weld. Code for ‘will win’, you’d have to be forgiven for thinking! A couple of others for the notebook are Helvetio and Jubilant Note, who both performed well at the Curragh on Sunday, and the unraced Cathaoirleach, a Sinndar half-brother to Medicinal.
Two from the National Hunt brigade are Tasman and Admiral’s Call. Tasman, still a maiden on the level, showed tremendous improvement over flights through the winter.
He is currently being schooled over fences and will be out on grass in two weeks. He will be back for the Galway Festival, where he will make his debut as a chaser and is also likely to contest a flat handicap.
Admiral’s Call is a four-year-old by Definite Article. “He could make his debut at Punchestown or else go out on grass”, said Weld. “We think he is an exceptionally nice horse.”
