Hellenistic and Pat Smullen winning for Dermot Weld © Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld has forged potentially significant links with Calumet Farm in recent times and the trainer registered his third winner for that Kentucky based super-stud, when their Hellenistic landed the Leopardstown Summer Membership Handicap at Leopardstown today.
The win was Weld and stable jockey Pat Smullen's second of the evening, having earlier won the opener with Sarafiyla and Weld later stated “she has progressed since her last start and did it well.”
Regarding his association with the internationally famous Calumet Farm, Weld, in his first year training for the Farm, added “Calumet Farm is a farm steeped in history and is a fabulous place.”
Calumet Farm, whose owner Brad Kelley and family were present for the win, gained fame as the breeding ground of eight Kentucky Derby and two American Triple Crown winners (Whirlaway and Citation).
Weld is an old pro at playing down wild speculation about his horses' chances at the upcoming annual Galway Festival and, having already trained 51 Flat winners in 2014, later playfully pleaded with Attheraces viewers to be cautious, saying “I think I've used all my ammunition for Galway!”
Surely not.
Quotes from Alan Magee
