Cap peaks as she makes breakthrough

Caponata, an impressive winner on her debut at the corresponding meeting last year, made her stakes-race breakthrough when landing the listed Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park yesterday.

The Selkirk filly, the second leg of a double for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, had to battle through the final two furlongs to get the better of front-running three-year-old We’ll Go Walking by a half-length. The pair finished eight lengths clear of third-placed Aloof.

Weld commented: “They are two nice fllies and you’ll find the second is smart as well. This is a very good filly and she did it well. I think the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes (Group 3) at the Curragh on Guineas weekend is the logical follow-on for her.