Weld bandwagon rolls on relentlessly
Given a powerful drive by Pat Shanahan, the daughter of Sadler’s Wells found loads for pressure when the need was greatest.
Shanahan edged her past trail-blazing Hazarafa inside the final furlong and kept the mare going in terrific style to resist the persistent challenge of Choose Me by a snug neck.
Kris Weld represented his father and reported: “We thought she would win. She is beautifully bred, so it is great to take a Listed race with her.
“I don’t know what will be next, it will probably be a Group 3, although she may have to travel for that.”
Weld completed a double when Directa King proved far too good for heavily-backed odds-on shot Cloone Rocket in the Peter Clohessy’s Bar And Sin Bin Nightclub Race.
Cloone Rocket tried to make all, but Roger Quinlan brought the winner with a steady run in the straight and Dircta King was well on top close home.
Commented Kris Weld: “He has had loads of problems, but has plenty of talent. Roger gave him a great ride.”
The Weld camp was badly out of luck, however, in the Croom House Stud EBF Fillies Maiden.
Their previously once-raced Askew was coming with what looked to be a winning effort when breaking a leg with less than two furlongs to travel.
Victory went to the Aidan O’Brien trained Catchafallingstar, who stayed on for Seamus Heffernan to beat Positive step.
O’Brien’s Gemstone went off a warm order for the Grant Thornton Race and duly obliged.
Sean Levey had her in front from the start and the daughter of Galileo had little trouble beating Kevin Prendergast’s newcomer, Kissable.
The runner-up, however, ran promisingly. She was slowly away and had to be ridden through the opening furlong.
But she hit top gear in the straight, making up a huge amount of ground to get to within striking distance of Gemstone.
O’Brien’s son, Joseph, gave the Pat Flynn-trained Conneyella a very confident drive to win the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
The youngster was in no hurry, but produced the 11-4 favourite with impeccable timing to sweep to the front under two furlongs from home.
Sean Og Coulston, an easy winner at Fairyhouse on Wednesday, looked something of a good thing in the Special Olympics Ireland Games Families Party Handicap.
He was able to run here under a 5lbs penalty, but will go up by 14lbs in the future. Backed from 6-4 to evens, Sean Og Coulston had every chance, but proved no match for Miss Eze.
Partnered by Danny Mullins for Paul Cashman, Miss Eze quickened in style inside the furlong pole to score going away by a length and a quarter.
Only three faced the starter in the Irish Mirror Maiden, with victory going to the outsider, Rum Raisin.
Enterprisingly handled by Seamus Heffernan, initiating a double for him, the John Murphy-trained four-year-old made all to easily beat An Saighdiur.
