Foxtrot Charlie and Pat Smullen stride clear© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld has enjoyed a tremendous 2015 so far with 43 domestic winners and well over a million euro in win and place prize-money but the Rosewell House maestro sent out just his third juvenile winner of the campaign as Foxtrot Charlie took the opening race of the Killarney July Festival in great style.
The Calumet Farm-owned American bred colt was easy in the market for his debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Race as punters concentrated on Brontide runner-up on both previous starts, and the Ballydoyle colt Zig Zag
However the 7/1 chance belied the lack of confidence, heading the front-running Brontide over a furlong out and stretching clear under Pat Smullen inside the final furlong.
The 7/1 chance had three and a quarter lengths to spare over the 11/10 favourite Brontide at the line, with Auld Brig just a neck further back in third.
Smullen said, "I thought he'd be a bit green for around here and he showed his greenness in front.
"I was pleased with the way he quickened up but he is a raw horse with plenty of improvement in him. There should be more to come."
(TW & AM)
