Melbourne remains possible target for impressive Beauty

PROFOUND BEAUTY retained her unbeaten record this season with a comfortably achieved win in the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes over one and a half miles at Leopardstown last night.

The Emirates Melbourne Cup remains a possible target for the Dermot Weld-trained five year old who beat Mourayan, the Irish Derby third, by one and a quarter lengths, to record her third win of the year.

But with the weights for Australia’s famous two mile handicap out early next month, the handicapper’s reaction to last night’s victory will influence whether the five year old will attempt to improve on her fifth placing in the big Flemington event.

Weld said: “Profound Beauty was impressive tonight and will probably run next in the Irish Field St Leger next month. The weights for the Melbourne Cup are out on September 2 and we’ll review the situation then.”

Despite Mourayan’s defeat, he remains on course for the Ladbrokes St Leger with trainer John Oxx expressing himself “happy” with the colt’s performance.

“That was a good run. The winner is a very smart mare and the ground was plenty fast for our fellow. He’d also appreciate going a bit further and Doncaster remains the plan.” Oxx said.

Oxx and Mick Kinane were on the mark in the one mile Costelloe & Costelloe Fillies Handicap when 8-1 shot Aspectoflove benefited from a clear run on the far rail to beat Rose Hip, who hung left when challenging inside the final furlong, by threequarters of a length.

Oxx said: “It wasn’t looking good for her turning for home, but things opened up well for her and we’ll now look for something similar for her.”

Elusive Award, a 20-1 shot, took the seven furlong Irish Stallion Farms EBF Two Year Old maiden for Declan McDonogh and trainer Andy Oliver who said: “I expected him to run well. He’s a big, leggy colt who will improve. We entered him for the Racing Post Trophy.”

After Miss Laa Di Da had taken the seven furlong Tattersalls EBF Two Year Old Fillies Maiden under Emmet McNamara, trainer Noel Meade said: “John Egan rode her first time out at Galway and came in and said she would win next time. She didn’t have much luck in running at Galway but that was an auction maiden and we didn’t know what we might be taking on here.”

Gary Carroll has been the apprentice find of the season and he brought his tally for the year to 24 with a double on the Willie McCreery-trained Toasted Special in the six furlong Dalkey Fillies Handicap, in which the four year old got up to beat Allegra Tak by a neck despite drifting right when switched, and Final Flashback in the one mile one furlong handicap for trainer Pat Flynn who enjoyed a double at Tramore.