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Alan Magee

Alan Magee

Caponata takes feature for Weld/Smullen

Sun 28th Apr 2013, 17:12

Caponata is driven out by Pat Smullen to beat We'll Go WalkingCaponata is driven out by Pat Smullen to beat We'll Go Walking
© Photo Healy Racing

Caponata got her season off to a successful start when taking the Group 3 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Victor McCalmont Memorial Stakes at Gowran Park.

A Listed winner at Naas last year and also just touched off in the Group 2 Blandford Stakes, the Selkirk filly was completing a double on the day for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

The extended nine-furlong event turned into a duel in the straight between the Khalid Abdulla-owned 5/4 favourite and the front-running We’ll Go Walking.

The latter made a winning debut here earlier this month over a mile and a half, and not surprisingly Kevin Manning decided to make plenty of use of her.

Pat Smullen threw down a strong challenge on Caponata approaching the final furlong, and she held sway in the closing stages to score by a half-length.

The pair stretched right away from their five rivals, with a yawning eight length gap back to Aloof in third at the line.

Weld said, “They are two nice fillies. I’d say the second filly is smart as well. The Group 3 on Guineas weekend (Abu Dhabi Stakes) at the Curragh would be the logical follow on. Hopefully both those fillies will have a good year.

“As the year progresses you would hope we can build to Group 1 status with her. I think she has the potential to be a Group 1 filly.”

Jim Bolger was happy with the performance of the runner-up and said, “We’ll try and win a stakes race with her first, and she could line up in the Irish Oaks. She may even stay further than a mile and a half.”

Additional reporting by Gary Carson

About Alan Magee
Alan has worked in the racing industry for well over 30 years including with the Sporting Life, Turform and Irish Racing Services. He took up his current role as Irish Racing Team Leader with the Press Association in 2013. He has a keen interest in most sports and plays golf.