Weld to leave it late on Swallow bid

Dermot Weld will wait until the week of the race before committing Grey Swallow to the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on October 3.

The son of Daylami lowered the colours of Epsom Derby hero North Light in the Irish equivalent at the Curragh on his penultimate start and was a close fourth in a hot renewal of the Irish Champion Stakes last time out.

“I’ll decide on Tuesday week, I’ll be leaving it as late as we need to,” Weld said today. “He was very quiet all week after the Champion Stakes at Leopardstown but he was a bit brighter this morning.”

Weld was speaking at the Curragh, where his Vinnie Roe recorded an unprecedented fourth successive victory in the Irish Field St Leger yesterday.

He too has a number of future options.

“Vinnie Roe is well, a bit tired but I was pleased with yesterday’s performance,” the trainer said.

“I’ll review the whole thing later in the week and we’ll make a decision not this week, but the following week when we’ll decide which direction we go with him.

“He’s in the Arc and we’ll look at that, we’ll look at Melbourne (Cup) and we’ll look at the Canadian International – but there’ll be no decision for about 10 days.

“He’s fine and I’m happy with the horse.”

Weld’s 2002 Melbourne Cup hero Media Puzzle finished seventh in yesterday’s race and he added: “Media Puzzle is OK but I was slightly disappointed with his run.

“The ground went against him but I was still slightly disappointed. He had worked better than he ran.”

Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Ladbrokes betting: 4-1 North Light, 5-1 Grey Swallow, 8-1 Warrsan, 10-1 Mubtaker, Ouija Board, Prospect Park, Shirocco, 12-1 Tap Dance City, 12-1 Vallee Enchantee, Valixir, 14-1 Cherry Mix, 16-1 Tycoon, 20-1 Gamut, Lord Du Sud, Policy Maker, 25-1 bar.

With a run: 4-1 Sulamani, 5-1 Quiff, 10-1 Mamool.