Elegant Peace (inside) is driven out by Leigh Roche to beat Balmont Blast© Photo Healy Racing
After winning the opener with Balansiya Dermot Weld doubled up in the third, the www.leopardstown.com Nursery, as Elegant Peace battled gamely to score under Leigh Roche.
Sent off a 14/1 shot, the daughter of Intense Focus was having just her second start in handicap company, and after breaking well, she then dropped back and was settled towards the rear of mid-division.
She still had plenty to do two furlongs out, but she came through between horses to lead a furlong out, and she kept on well from there to fend off the challenge of Balmont Blast (9/1), for Eddie Lynam and Niall McCullagh, by a neck. Butterfly Dancer finished a further three and a half lengths back in third under Ray Dawson for Jessica Harrington at 4/1, while the 7/2 favourite Greanta was a short head back in fourth for Kevin Manning and Jim Bolger.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "She was given a very good ride by Leigh. He went in instead of going out, and that was probably the winning of the race.
"She is owned by the brilliant breeder John Malone, and he has the dam in foal to Helmut.
"For a small operation he has a superb strike rate, and the dam has already bred a group winner (Hoh Mike)."
