Weld leaning towards Epsom Derby for Bend
The unbeaten son of Sadler’s Wells is generally the 10-1 second favourite, behind Ballydoyle hot-pot, Hold That Tiger.
Speaking at the annual Open Day at his impressive Roswell House base on the Curragh, Weld said: “I am surprised he is so high up in the betting. I see him more as an Epsom Derby horse.”
Refuse To Bend ran twice as a juvenile, landing a moderate maiden at Gowran Park, before taking a major rise in class in the Group One National Stakes at the Curragh in September. He came through that stiff test in fine style, producing a battling performance to beat Aidan O’Brien’s Van Nistelrooy and David Loder’s Dublin.
“He’s in fine shape and will start off in the Leopardstown 2,000 Guineas Trial on April 13”, said Weld.
2That will tell us where to go afterwards. He will then either head for the English 2,000 Guineas or to Leopardstown and the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial.”
Weld is very happy with the progress Refuse To Bend has made over the winter.
“He has developed and is well forward. He is laid-back and hard to get fit. He’s a relaxed horse and, like most Sadler’s Wells, will like an ease in the ground.”
Rosewell House is home to 107 inmates and we watched no less than 33 of them, including Refuse To Bend, bound up the nine furlongs Old Vic gallop on what could only be described as a great-to-be-alive morning.
Weld is quietly confident of a good campaign.
“We have had a couple of wonderful years and I am well aware it will be hard to keep the momentum going.
“We sold a number of horses and some have gone to stud. We will be depending on a young team coming forward.”
Two of the not-so-young brigade, however, Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle and triple St Leger winner, Vinnie Roe, will again be huge standard-bearers for the yard.
Media Puzzle followed Weld’s mighty Vintage Crop in becoming only the second horse from the northern hemisphere to land the biggest race in Australia last November.
Now a six-year-old, Melbourne again looms large on his agenda.
“I know he will have a lot more weight, but he will be trained specifically to go back and defend the Cup”, said Weld.
“It is a wonderful race to win, but takes a lot out of horses. I’m firmly of the opinion it takes them six months to recover. You will not see Media Puzzle until mid-summer.”
Vinnie Roe, carrying a stone more than Media Puzzle, ran a cracker to take fourth place in the Melbourne Cup. He’s been a terrific servant and as well as his Leger successes, two Irish and a French, was only beaten a neck by Royal Rebel in the Ascot Gold Cup last year.
He will be staying in his own hemisphere, however, and may well be trained differently to last season.
“It is in my mind to train him for the ’Arc”, revealed Weld.
“He was rated the champion European stayer last season, but shows so much pace I am not convinced he needs to go extreme distances.
“I will make a decision in May about the Ascot Gold Cup. My whole emphasis with him, however, will be on the second part of the season.”
Weld harbours high hopes for many of his three-year-olds, particularly the flly, Miss Nashwan.
Italian owned and bred, she went to that country for her only race as a two-year-old, winning her maiden at Capannelle.
She made a most promising seasonal debut at the Curragh last month, finishing to great effect to get within half a length of warm favourite, Wrong Key.
Weld makes no secret of his admiration for the filly. “I like her a lot and she will run next in a ten furlongs listed race at Navan.
“After that the plan is the Italian Oaks. It is very valuable and there are lots of bonuses.
“She’s good, is a lovely big mare and, I think, will appreciate going a mile and a half.”
Another filly to note is Dimitrova, who landed some decent wagers when getting off the mark at Leopardstown on Saturday.
“She got a lovely ride from Pat (Shanahan)”, said Weld.
“I know she had the run of the race, but she could do no more than win. She will go for the 1,000 Guineas Trial at Leopardstown on Sunday week.”
He has great hopes for his three-year-old colts and when newcomer Maharib took second in a 30-runner maiden at the Curragh nine days ago it was a source of great encouragement to him.
“He was beaten fair and square, but it gave me a key to other maidens we have”, said Weld.
“He didn’t come right out and say it, but certainly one got the impression Maharib is not the best among the maiden brigade!
Definitely for the notebook is the unraced Red Ransom colt, Military Option.
“We like him a lot. If I was to pick out an unknown horse then he would be the one. He had a little hold-up, but could go to the Curragh on Sunday, or else wait for Cork at Easter.”
Whichever race Military Option misses will see the once-raced Former Senator do duty for the stable. This full-brother to Dance Design was thrown in at the deep-end on his debut, and didn’t enjoy much luck in running, when beaten just over two lengths into fourth place behind Tomahawk in a Listed seven furlongs event at the Curragh last month.
Said Weld: “I loved the pace he showed at the Curragh, for a horse who needs a mile and a half.
"He had little problems last year. He’s good, but what he will aspire to I don’t know!”
Another for the short list is Amid The Chaos, who finished a well beaten seventh of 11 behind Roosevelt over a mile and a quarter at Leopardstown on Saturday.
That was his first run and Weld remarked: “He is crying out for a mile and a half and will be a good maiden at a trip.”
Weld also believes the unraced Kingmambo colt, Multazem, has a future. “He’s working well and is likely to be seen after Easter.”
There are two other older horses worth a mention - Lowlander and Irresistible Jewel.
Lowlander, who won four times for John Oxx last season, has to yet to make his debut for Weld.
“He might start off over hurdles at Punchestown and could develop into a Melbourne Cup horse”, commented the trainer.
Irresistible Jewel enjoyed a lucrative campaign as a three-year-old, numbering among her victories the Group Two Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot.
“She will be coming back into training next week”, revealed Weld.
“She will be trained for the second part of the year and the hope is that she will develop into a Breeders’ Cup horse.”
There are 50 two-year-olds at Rosewell House, but most are backward and, again, it will be the second half of the season before many of them are seen.
“I would expect some of our three-year-olds to develop into Group horses”, concludes Weld. “We should have a good year, as long as they stay healthy and well.”
