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Caponata another cracking filly for the Weld team

Caponata wasn't for catching by Shebella (green) or Aaraas (blue) at NaasCaponata wasn't for catching by Shebella (green) or Aaraas (blue) at Naas
© Photo Healy Racing

Caponata took the step-up from maiden to Listed company in her stride when getting the job done nicely in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Naas Oaks Trial.

First-time blinkered Remember Alexander set a scorching tempo and it wasn't surprising when she folded in the straight. The victorious daughter of Selkirk took over going well from a quarter of a mile out and Shebella soon emerged as a threat. However that one, with the aid of a first-time tongue-tie, could do no more inside the last and two and three parts of a length separated them at the line.

It was hardly surprising in the aftermath to hear successful handler Dermot Weld say of the Prince Khalid Abdulla-owned and Pat Smullen-ridden victor: "She'd been working very nicely and I was expecting her to win this more or less," given that she ended up the 3/1 favourite from a morning quote of as big as 5/1.

Weld continued: "I thought she put up a good performance and she's progressed nicely from her win at Gowran.

"I was very supportive of this race being made a Listed contest, I thought it was an ideal time for an Oaks trial. It was an excellent field and a good winner.

"She's entered in the Irish Oaks and I'll talk to Lord Grimthorpe (Prince Khalid's racing manager) at the weekend.

"Pat was of the opinion that a mile and a quarter might be as far as she wants to go at the moment.

"She's a big mare, 16.2 and she's a mare with a future, this year and next.

"She loves a nice ease in the ground – that's a big factor for her." (GC & EM)

1st
3/1Fav
Tote €2.50 €1.30
2nd
2.75L
5/1
€1.50
3rd
0.5L
7/1
€1.80
4th
2.75L
12/1