RACING: Pat Smullen's overnight trek from Chicago paid off in style at Leopardstown yesterday where Vinnie Roe began his Melbourne Cup preparation with a victory.
The double Leger winner won the Listed Ballyroan Stakes despite getting tired and highlighted a Smullen treble that more than justifed his trip from the US.
After Jazz Beat's agonising nose defeat in Saturday night's Secretariat Stakes, Smullen had less than two hours to make the airport for his return flight. "It was a bit hectic but I got in to Dublin at nine this morning. I dozed a bit on the plane but it wasn't real sleep," the current champion jockey said.
Dermot Weld chose to remain in Chicago and listened in by phone to Vinnie Roe's return to action. There was certainly no evidence of a hangover from his narrow defeat in the Ascot Gold Cup. Vinnie Roe settled the race in a matter of strides in the straight but understandably got tired and Millstreet got to within half a length at the line.
"It's full steam ahead for the Irish Leger and then the Melbourne Cup. The Melbourne Cup will look a bit better than the Ascot Gold Cup in the trophy cabinet!" reported Weld's son, Mark.
The "good" ground on offer yesterday helped to transform the form of the Weld horses who had been in a relative slump in recent weeks. "It's amazing how most of our horses can't get out of their own way on ground worse than good. But as soon as we get decent going, they all run great," Weld Jnr said.
Dress To Thrill certainly vindicated the theory with an ultra-smooth defeat of Duck Row and Ahsanabad in the Group Three Desmond Stakes. She will be aimed next at the Matron Stakes on Champion Stakes day.
"There is one very happy trainer getting very little sleep in Chicago. He is thrilled with this. Vinnie is his older horse but this is his baby filly," said Weld Jnr.
Perfect Touch was another to thrive on the going and recorded a smooth follow up to her Roscommon maiden success in the seven-furlong handicap.
John Oxx wasn't exactly gushing enthusiasm for Mkuzi's chance before the Premier Handicap but was happy to be proved wrong. "I thought he would be hard pressed at the weights and was 10lb too high. But the handicapper in his infinite wisdom knows more than me," he said. Oxx also picked up the nine-furlong handicap with Dear Catch.
Kevin Prendergast's winning streak with his juveniles continued in the opener where Kurbaan held off the favourite Akash by a neck. "He ran a good race at Tipperary the last time when he probably went a bit too fast early on," said the Curragh trainer.
