DERMOT Weld followed up a double at Leopardstown on Sunday with another brace as Deressa and Falcon Eight were both successful at the combined odds of 84/1.
Romzina was the main fancy from Rosewell House in the one-mile, six-furlong Dine At Gowran Park Race but the 2/1 favourite couldn’t find any extra in the closing stages as Falcon Eight scored under an enterprising ride by Leigh Roche.
The 16/1 chance led before halfway and, chased by a line of rivals spread across the track a furlong out, kept on gamely to beat War Rooms, who finished best of all, by three-quarters of a length.
Enjoying himself
“He loved being out in front and enjoyed himself.
“The (yielding) ground was very suitable, he stays well and was fit from hurdling,” said Weld of the 10-year-old, owned in partnership by Dr Ronan Lambe and Dr John Climax.
Deressa (4/1) initiated the Weld double in the Gowranpark.ie Fillies Maiden, striking the front 150 yards out and keeping on well to beat 8/11 favourite Win Me Over by a length and a quarter.
“She was consistent last year, rated 82 coming into today and carried through that consistent form to win.
She was fit and well coming here and got a lovely ride from Chris Hayes,” said Weld of the Aga Khan homebred daughter of Zarak.
DERMOT Weld was denied a treble on the day when 11/10 favourite Wild Sapphire went down by a length to front-running The Liffey Swim in the Golf At Gowran Park (C&G) Maiden. Colin Keane’s mount made most and found plenty inside the final 150 yards for a successful debut.
“He’s a fine big horse that has taken plenty of time. He’s by Kodiac out of a Shamardal mare, a cross that has worked very well,” said trainer Michael O’Callaghan of the 4/1 shot.
“We had the cheekpieces on him today because he’s been a real sleeper at home - very switched off. Colin said he was always doing enough, and it helped when the other horse came to him. He saw out the mile well and I’d say he could stay a mile and a quarter.”
Double secured
Keane later completed a 34/1 double aboard another newcomer, Gambino, in the Racing Again April 16th Maiden. The Churchill gelding was another never too far from the pace and got on top in the final 100 yards to beat Royal Hollow by half a length.
“He’s a fair horse. I bought two yearlings with Donnchadh (Doyle) and the other fella went out to Saudi when he ran as a two-year-old. This lad pulled a muscle at two and did something similar as a three-year-old, so it’s taken time to get him out on the track,” said trainer Noel Meade of the 6/1 winner.
“I’d imagine, with myself and Donnchadh owning him, he’d be a horse to sell. Colin said he’ll go on quicker ground and will go a bit further.”
Runaway horses
Eastwatch was certainly the most impressive winner on the card, taking the Gowran Park Racing Club (C&G) Maiden in runaway fashion.
The Make Believe gelding, a promising third on debut last autumn, took command under two furlongs out and soon stretched clear under Ben Coen to beat Kingstonian by nine lengths.
Royal Ascot
“He’s a big baby, he’s 16.3hh so he could be for Australia or the Triumph Hurdle but we’re going for a handicap at Royal Ascot,” said Andy Slattery, who trains the 11/10 favourite for Damien Moore.
“He’s still very raw and I won’t run him for six or eight weeks. He’s been working very well with Sunchart, I’d put him in that kind of level. I wouldn’t run him on quick ground but it’s grand, safe ground out there today.”
TOP Of The Pops provided Offaly trainer Jerry Murray with a welcome change of luck when recording a 25/1 surprise for the Lios Dearg Rangers Partnership in the Paulstown Handicap.
The Kingman gelding made most of the running under Wesley Joyce and kept on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Suityourselfboss by a length and three-quarters.
“He was off for a good while and had his niggling problems so we campaigned him for Dundalk last year, but it didn’t suit him,” said Murray.
“It was a bit quick for him on Sunday (at Leopardstown) so we said we’d come here hoping there was a bit of cut in the ground and thankfully there was.
“I told him to try and go out and make it and he dictated from the front. When he won for Mark Johnston as a two-year-old that is the way he was trained so we went back to those tactics.”
According to plan
The other handicap on he card, the 0-60 over an extended mile and a furlong, went more to plan with Thatwilldoso scoring at 11/2. Jack Kearney’s mount drew clear inside the final furlong to beat Tatum by three and a half lengths.
Trainer Kevin Coleman commented: “She is a grand filly going forward who can go up in trip and I might get the jump licence out to give her a spin over hurdles. The syndicate are from Clare and I got her through Sean Grassick who recommended her.”