Weld looking to Longchamp with Vinnie Roe

Dermot Weld was dreaming of victory in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe after Vinnie Roe secured his place in racing history with an unprecedented third Irish Field St Leger triumph at the Curragh yesterday.

“The Arc is a definite possibility, though I wouldn’t rule out the Melbourne Cup either at this stage,” he said of the five-year-old.

“The Arc is very much in our minds, though, and there’s more to come from this horse.”

Confidently ridden by Pat Smullen, the 2-1 second favourite quickened impressively under two furlongs out to defeat the front-running Gamut, on whom Kieren Fallon attempted to steal a march on the opposition.

“This was one of Vinnie Roe’s easiest successes in this Classic. He is so laid-back, but he settled the issue when Pat went for him, which was the impressive thing,” said Weld.

The first horse to win the final Irish Classic three times since it was opened up to all ages 20 years ago, the son of Definite Article also won the French St Leger as a three-year-old.

“This horse has been working with more speed than ever this season,” said Weld. “We gave him plenty of time to recover from his good run in the Melbourne Cup last November behind our winner Media Puzzle.

“I think he can improve again from this as he was a couple of kilos over his ideal racing weight this afternoon.

“He is very adaptable ground-wise, but if it came up soft in Paris and put the emphasis on stamina and courage, he would have a real chance in the Arc.”

Smullen, who has been on the horse throughout a career that now encompasses 11 successes for prize money of 785,000 euros, likewise was singing the horse’s praises.

“He quickened up like the horse I’ve always thought he was,” he said.

“He’s all heart and guts – when you ride a horse that wants to win like that, how can you lose? If there was any juice in the ground at Longchamp, he’d run a big race in the Arc.”

Fallon showed plenty of enterprise in taking Gamut to the front from the start and setting a sensible pace, shadowed by the eventual third Powerscourt, with Smullen keeping them under cover throughout on the winner as Kevin Darley elected to hold up the favourite Bollin Eric .

Fallon suddenly quickened the tempo turning into the straight, with Smullen reacting quickest to bring Vinnie Roe alongside two down before committing his mount, who soon went on.

Darley never got too competitive on the favourite, although Bollin Eric began to close all too late and was ultimately beaten less than two lengths.

Darley blamed what he termed “the slow pace” for his mount’s defeat and trainer Tim Easterby, who later scored with Fayr Jag, was philosophical.

Easterby remarked: “This wasn’t Bollin Eric’s day, but he will bounce back like he has done before. There was no pace and our horse had a lot to do on the home straight.”

Darley again played it late on Fayr Jag in the Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, but this time he made it in the nick of time.

The supplemented Hanabad, in the hands of Johnny Murtagh, appeared to have stolen a decisive lead on the favoured stand rails in this Group Three event when taking over from Avonbridge over a furlong out.

However Darley, who had elected to track Murtagh through, got lucky when the leader began to tire and roll off the rail, allowing Fayr Jag to flash to the front in the closing strides to prevail by a head.

With splendid understatement, Darley said on dismounting: “I would have been an unlucky loser had we not got up.”

The jockey added: “Johnny Murtagh got the run I was hoping for but when I tracked him I got a lovely run through late and the horse has quickened well.”

Easterby said: “This horse ran a great race behind Somnus at Haydock last Saturday when the ground was too soft for him.

“It was perfect here today for him and as he has picked up a big penalty for the Ayr Gold Cup, we will probably take him instead to Ascot for the Diadem Stakes.”

He added with a wry smile: “I don’t think I’d have given Kevin a lift home if he’d got beat there.”

Fallon gained some compensation for his defeat on Gamut as 9-1 chance Huxley landed the €30,000 www.kildareusedcars.ie Handicap when overtaking stablemate Sheer Tenby, with Darley up, to give Tramore trainer Paul Roche a dream result.

Liam Keniry was found guilty of careless riding, suspended for two days (September 24 and 25) and fined €130 after failing to keep a straight course at the start of the Land Rover Handicap.

Keniry was riding Brendan Powell’s raider Little Edward, who was then beaten a short head by Serov.