Harzand's half-brother Haripour and Leigh Roche© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld cut a somewhat lonely figure on Derby day at Navan today but did win the Barbecue And Evening Racing July 14 Maiden with Haripour a half-brother to Weld’s last year's Epsom Derby hero Harzand.
In common with his more illustrious sibling Harzand, Haripour made his own racecourse debut in a back-end mile maiden at Gowran as a two year old but coming to Navan today had failed to win in three starts this term. Admittedly his latest start was a promising fifth in a Listed race over today’s course and distance and today Haripour, under Leigh Roche, quickened smartly in the closing stages to beat runner-up Erratic Path by five and a half lengths.
Heavily backed favourite Steel Prince was punted from an opening on-course show of 15/8 in to 4/5 favourite but folded tamely for fourth place.
Weld could be forgiven for wanting to be somewhere else today but later said “it's hard to believe it was a year ago today we were at Epsom with Harzand!
"Haripour has done it well, the blinkers helped his concentration. He was always travelling today. He's improving with every run. We'll look for black type with him next. He was impressive.
"It wasn't like a drawn out staying workmanlike performance. He quickened in three strides and settled it quickly, that's what I love to see about him. He's a good staying colt with plenty more to come."
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Michael Graham
