Humilis on course for Royal Ascot

DERMOT WELD’S rapidly improving Humilis is flying up through the grades and she enjoyed her biggest success to date when taking the Listed Blue Wind Stakes at Cork last night.

The daughter of Sadler’s Wells started with victory in a maiden at Clonmel and followed by landing a moderate handicap at Naas. This was a major step up for Dermot Weld’s tough charge, but she again showed all the right qualities when the war began to rage.

Pat Smullen soon had her in front, setting the pace to suit himself. Jakarta Jade challenged strongly in the straight, but was always being repelled and though Queen Astrid finished with a flourish, she was still a short head adrift at the line.