Graduate toys with his rivals
The son of Galileo was available at 6-5 in the morning, but developed into a major order through the day and was returned at 2-5.
He is a half-brother to Refuse To Bend, winner of the English 2000 Guineas, and Melbourne Cup hero, Media Puzzle, who were both, of course, trained by Weld.
Notable Graduate essentially never left second gear and coasted ahead for Pat Smullen early in the straight.
John Oxx’s newcomer, Kasanka, was soon out after the winner and, though never threatening to get in a blow, performed with real promise.
Reported Weld: “He ran a very nice race at the Curragh, in what was probably a good maiden.
“He is a lovely big horse with, hopefully, a big future. He is in the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial (Leopardstown), so we will see. We are hoping he will progress into an Irish Derby horse.”
Weld and Smullen began their evening with Anderiego justifying favouritism in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden for three-year-olds.
Backed from 11-10 to 4-5, the winner cruised through the contest and it was always only a matter of when Smullen pressed the accelerator.
Anderiego edged ahead with less than two furlongs to go and was soon clear of Burn The Floor, the verdict three lengths.
Said Weld: “He ran well at the Curragh, was fit and handled the ground. He is likely to go for a handicap next.”
Weld and Smullen were deprived of a treble when Galileo’s Choice failed to get to grips with the Charles Byrne-trained Pittoni in the Follow Tipperary Racecourse On Facebook Race.
Pittoni was a real gamble, from 4-1 in the morning and 9-4 to 11-8 on track. Johnny Murtagh had the ride and made all on the five-year-old, who had far too many guns for his rival from the furlong pole.
“He needs soft ground”, said Byrnes. “We were getting tonight out of the way first, but there are a couple of races for him in France and he might go there next.”
Michael Mulvany’s Tough As Nails, disqualified after winning on his debut at the Curragh, made no mistake in the Irish Stallion Farms’ EBF Maiden for juveniles.
Partnered by Gary Carroll, he took this with embarrassing ease, after easing ahead two furlongs down to score with any amount in hand.
“That makes up for the last day”, said a delighted Mulvany. “I think he’s a Group horse and the Marble Hill (Curragh) will be next.”
Carroll completed a double with a fine display aboard Tinas Exhibition in the Join The Tipperary Supporters’ Club 2011 Handicap.
The mare was kicked clear by Carroll early in the straight and though both King’s Road and Apache Drums looked like they might close her down, it never quite materialised.
The Joe Fogarty-trained Kateeva shot away two furlongs out to easily land the Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap.
She was very capably handled by 20-year-old Katherine O’Brien, who was enjoying her second success on the track and comes from Dingle. She has some 150 winners in pony racing to her credit.
Christy Roche’s Park Ranger, who ran a cracker at Leopardstown previously, redeemed the promise of that effort with an easy win in the Tippperary Vintage Rally On Easter Sunday Handicap.
The blinkered five-year-old was buried in behind horses by Fran Berry and only began to close down the leaders in the straight.
He came there pulling a train approaching the furlong pole and, in the end, won without knowing he’d been in a race!
