Chiara Luna (right)© Photo Healy Racing
Punters have seemingly hitched themselves to the Dermot Weld bandwagon in recent weeks and the back-in-form trainer’s supporters were rewarded at Leopardstown today as his heavily backed newcomer Chiara Luna won the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF (Fillies) Maiden in taking style.
The daughter of War Front is the first foal out of Weld’s Ribbelsdale Stakes winner Princess Highway and today displayed plenty of her mother’s ability when getting the better of Modern Love in the closing stages for a three parts of a length win.
Chiara Luna had been backed from 11/4 this morning and was sent off the 4/5 favourite, winning under Jockeys’ Championship chasing Pat Smullen.
Weld, whose horses now appear to have beaten their costly summer virus, later commented “it was a nice performance for her first start, for a filly that's bred to go much further and she'll learn a lot. She loved the nice ground and I appreciate the distance was always going to be a bit short for her.
“Hopefully next time with that benefit and over a bit further you will see a progressive filly. You could see the stamina coming through (at the end) and we ran her too short to teach her.
“We'll see how she comes out of the race, and see how she progresses, but obviously the Moyglare is a very logical possible next target for her. If for any reason we thought she needed more time we'd probably wait for the CL Weld Park Stakes over the stiff seven at Naas but the Moyglare is the most likely next race for her.”
He added “Princess Highway was a real mile-and-a-half mare and this filly will be best at a mile, I'd say, this year.To be able to win over a sharp six around here was a bonus.
“We've only limited time to get her right for a Group 1; other fillies have two and three runs but she's come along the last couple of weeks and has progressed nicely.”
Quotes from Gary Carson
