IRELAND: Weld Mounting Strong Cup Challenge

Sunday, 12 August 2012: Dermot Weld's classy stayer Galileo’s Choice moved a step closer to a Melbourne Cup berth with a strong win in the G3 Ballyroan Stakes at Leopardstown.

Dermot Weld Photo by Racing and Sports

The son of Galileo went into the race with two stakes victories two his name before posting a third in emphatic fashion.

The six-year-old travelled comfortably for jockey Pat Smullen before he put the stayer into the race with three furlongs to run.

The gelding had a little trouble getting past the leaders before stretching out stylishly to score by 1-1/2 lengths.

“That was a very good renewal – It was a proper race, full of Derby winners and Derby-placed horses.," Weld said.

"Galileo’s Choice has proven himself the best in terms of the distance.

“I imagine the Irish St Leger will be next and he’ll be entered in the Melbourne Cup and we’ll see what happens with that.”

Weld, who has trained two Melbourne Cup winners in Vintage Crop (1993) and Media Puzzle (2002), won another Group 3 race, the 2400m Give Thanks Stakes at Cork with Sapphire earlier in the week.

He said the four-year-old mare would also be entered for the Melbourne Cup.