Dermot Weld and Oisin Orr team up with newcomer Luxuriant© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld introduces an eye-catching newcomer at Leopardstown as Luxuriant makes her debut in the Carnival Extravaganza Maiden.
A home-bred owned by Khalid Abdullah, Luxuriant is a daughter of Kingman — who in his short stallion career to date has enjoyed great success.
Having sired the likes of Calyx, Sangarius and King Of Comedy already, Kingman looks set to be at the top of the tree for many years to come.
Luxuriant’s dam, Sense Of Joy, was a Group Three winner herself — so Weld will have high hopes he has another nice performer on his hands.
She will have to be pretty useful to win first time out on Thursday, though, because Kevin Prendergast’s Mudlahhim has already shown decent ability.
On his only outing at two, last September the Tamayuz colt finished second to none other than 2000 Guineas winner Magna Grecia.
That was over seven furlongs, and the extra two he faces on this occasion looks sure to suit. Santiago makes his debut for Aidan O’Brien in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Median Auction Maiden.
A son of Authorized, Santiago is the first foal out of the mare Wadyhatta — half-sister to French Derby third Motamarris and a distant relative of Urban Sea, quite possibly the greatest broodmare of them all.
In the Leopardstown Summer Sizzler Handicap, Tim Doyle’s Super Treat will aim to follow up a recent Fairyhouse win from last week.
He bolted up by five lengths there and has been raised 9lb by the handicapper, so is potentially well-treated with just a 6lb penalty to carry.
Top weight is Gee Rex who has some smart form as a juvenile and may be suited by the drop in class. Mia Mento is in a similar boat and ran a cracker in a heritage handicap last time out when fourth of 12 — and she has been dropped a pound.
