Stunning success for Weld
Stunning View ran much better than his final placing might suggest in the Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot and redeemed the promise of that effort in no uncertain manner.
The Shamardal colt’s only previous success came at this meeting as a two-year-old and he will surely continue on an upward curve now.
Pat Smullen — does anyone ride this course as well? — remained unflustered when Royal Blue Star went for home heading to the final turn.
On straightening out he launched a ferocious challenge and Stunning View responded readily to cut down the leader and win going away by two lengths.
“That was a great ride from Pat, he was in the right place throughout,’’ said Weld. “This is a very consistent, good horse. He ran well at Ascot, but today was the day.
“We will look for black type, the logical next step is to head for a Listed race.’’
Weld’s Rainforest Magic, absent since running three times over flights in January, ran away with the two mile Topaz Handicap.
Smullen powered the four-year-old into contention in the dip, drove him ahead off the final turn and the winner forged clear to score by four and a half lengths.
“Pat gave him a nice ride, the gaps came for the horse,’’ said Weld.
“We’ll think about running again later in the week, but he wouldn’t want it too firm and the ground is drying out rapidly.
“He could turn out over hurdles on Friday night in an amateur race and Robbie (McNamara) would ride.’’
The treble was landed when Catch The Eye totally outclassed the opposition in the modest caulfieldindustrial.com EBF Maiden.
The daughter of Oratorio was taken from 4-6 to 8-15 and even those cramped odds represented real value.
She shot to the front off the home turn for Smullen and stretched away to beat Diamond Daze by five and a half lengths.
Catch The Eye is owned by Charlie McCreevy’s wife, Noeleen and is the first horse they have had with Weld.
Sarteano, rested since finishing third at Cork in May, landed some decent wagers, 6-1 to 9-2, in the Latin Quarter Chase.
Confidently handled by the talented Bryan Cooper, the grey eased past the long-time leader, Willies Girl, after the final fence to win by two lengths.
Trainer Dessie Hughes said: “Everything was right for him here. His last two runs were good and he was brought down in the Irish National, when going well. We gave him a break and decided to try and win the Plate. But it didn’t look as if was going to get in so went for this instead.’’
Eddie Harty’s Princeton Plains battled well to master London Bridge in the opening Topaz Novice Hurdle.
London Bridge was in front over two out, but Niall Madden conjured a fine late burst from Princeton Plains, whose jumping left a bit to be desired, and the winner was well on top close home.
“It was a tactical race and his experience stood to him,’’ was Harty’s opinion. “In the end he’s won snugly and is a nice horse.’’
Aidan O’Brien’s beautifully bred Soon, who ran with a degree of promise first time at the Curragh, went off an astonishing 13-2, as high as 15-2 was available, in the caulfieldindustrial.com EBF Fillies Maiden.
She duly did the business, although still appearing a trifle green under Seamie Heffernan.
Redoutable, a major disappointment at the Curragh previously, tried to make all, but Heffernan persuaded the daughter of Gaileo to put her best forward close home and Soon grabbed Redoutable to score by a head.
Johnny Murtagh struck for the first time this week, landing the Caulfield Industrial Athlone Handicap on Eddie Lynam’s Iron Major.
There were a number of possibilities entering the final furlong, but it was Iron Major, with Murtagh riding a whirlwind finish, who found the most in the final strides, with about a length and a half covering the first five home.
The attendance was 17,510, again only marginally down on last year’s figure of 17,860
