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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Qualify impresses in Weld Park Stakes

Sun 28th Sep 2014, 14:53

Qualify is pushed out close home by Joseph O'BrienQualify is pushed out close home by Joseph O'Brien
© Photo Healy Racing

Stellar Glow was the only one punters wanted to know about for the Group 3 C.L. & M.F. Weld Park Stakes but she ultimately had to settle for third as Qualify ran out a comfortable winner for Aidan and Joseph O’Brien.

The daughter of Fastnet Rock finished a good third on her second career start in the Group 3 Silver Flash Stakes at Leopardstown in July before getting off the mark on her next outing at Dundalk.

She was a bit disappointing when finishing fifth in the Debutante Stakes here last month but she ran well to finish sixth in the Moyglare on her last start.

Having opened the 7/4 last night she proved friendless with punters and was sent off the 9/4 second favourite.

The Jim Bolger trained Stellar Glow was available at 9/4 last night but she was well-backed this morning and went off the 10/11 favourite.

Settled in rear the Louis and Kate Ronan owned winner was ridden from over two furlongs out, getting to the front just over a furlong from home before going on to score comfortably by three lengths. Lola Beaux (11/2) ran a nice race to take second under Fran Berry for Jessica Harrington while Stellar Glow was a short head back in third.

Aidan O’Brien said in the aftermath: "We think she’s a very smart filly. She just wanted to be pulled back as she’s a filly with a lot of speed. We have been riding her wrong. You can put her to sleep and she has a massive stride and can get there quickly.

"She's a Fastnet Rock and loves that ground, and she could go for the Fillies Mile (at Newmarket on October 17th) if the ground stays good.”

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
9/4
Tote €2.70 €1.50
2nd
3L
11/2
€2.10
3rd
shd
10/11Fav
4th
5L
14/1
About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.