DERMOT WELD handled what might have been a mildly embarrassing situation with commendable sang-froid after the unconsidered Token Gesture had beaten his better-fancied stable-companion Absolute Glee into third place in Saturday's Group Three CL Weld Park Stakes at the Curragh.
Not that there was much in it. Token Gesture, ridden by Pat Smullen, who has now lost his claim, made all the running to hold by a head the strong finish of the Aidan O'Brien-trained Melleray, with the always prominent Absolute Glee, with Michael Kinane, a short head away.
According to Weld, there was not much to choose between the Moyglare Stud duo, who had worked well together "and that is why I ran them both". Furthermore, Absolute Glee, who had got up in the last stride to win over a mile at Tralee "needs further" than this seven furlongs. "They will be two lovely fillies for next year, concluded the trainer.
Miltonfield reversed Tralee's Carling Gold Cup placings with Notcomplainingbut in the Irish Cesarewitch. Meeting Paddy Mullins' charge 8lb better for a beating of four-and-a-half lengths, the consistent Miltonfield was entitled to turn the tables, especially as Notcomplainingbut is better racing left-handed.
The John Mulhern-trained winner, who was unlucky when finishing second in a handicap at Galway, got the upper hand of his rival close home to win by a length. The result was a welcome change of luck for young Ted Durcan, who was formerly apprenticed to Jim Bolger and is now with Paddy Prendergast.
Ger's Royale, successful in a six-furlong premier handicap here last month, had no problems in staying, the extra three furlongs of the listed Solonaway Race. winning comfortably in the hands of John Murtagh from the front-running Viaticum.
Trainer Pat Flynn had also saddled By Charlie Allen to win the opening, Derrinstown Apprentice Series final but his Cesarewitch runner, Gan Saru, never showed with a chance. Ger Moylan was the clear winner of the Derrinstown series.
Just as he had done when making all to win over five furlongs at Navan last Wednesday, Check The Band showed a lot of speed to win the listed Blenheim Stakes over a further furlong and beat the fast filly, Fairy Song.
"He's getting better, he's going to be a smashing three-year-old," enthused his trainer, Aid an O'Brien, who believes the grey is more likely to find his forte sprinting rather than racing over a mile.
The O'Brien-Christy Roche partnership was expected to follow up with Crown Regent in the Maddenstown Maiden but this colt had to give best to the Jeremy Harley-trained filly Blushing Minstrel, who collared Crown Regent a furlong-and-a-half down and ran on well to win by three lengths. The once-raced winner was highly thought of by connections early in the season and was entered for the Lowther Stakes, but she met with a setback. She may reappear at Leopardstown on October 28th.
Roblexie got the partnership back on track when winning the Guardian Insurance Handicap from stable-companion Promising Routt. However, Christy Roebe had to work a bit to shake off the apprentice-ridden filly and get home by a neck.
