Vote Often (left) just gets the better of Odeliz in the Park Express Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld got the new turf season off to a bright start when sending out Vote Often to land the Group 3 Lodge Park Stud EBF Park Express Stakes, initiating a big race double for the local trainer and stable jockey Pat Smullen who were later successful with Stuccodor in the Lincoln.
The easy-to-back 10/1 chance and English raider Odeliz fought out a great finish as the pair drew clear inside the final furlong of this mile event.
The Khalid Abdullah home-bred just proved the stronger in the closing stages to prevail by a head. Achnaha was nearly four lengths adrift in third, while 9/4 favourite Wannabe Better could find no extra in sixth.
Weld said, “That was a lovely performance and she’s a nice, tough filly. She won well at Naas last year.
“The key is she loves that ground and that’s why we got her out early. She’s beautifully bred and it’s great to get her a Group 3 win.
“She will be considered for the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She handles a good cut in the ground, and she’s tough and stays.”
Weld also revealed plans for his Weatherbys Champion Bumper hero Silver Concorde saying, “He will go for the Champion Bumper at Punchestown, while Vigil (fifth at Cheltenham) could run at Fairyhouse or Punchestown. One wants good ground while the other likes it soft.”
