Weld assesses Rock's prospects Ground conditions at Epsom on Saturday week seem unlikely to trouble Fascinating Rock. The Dermot Weld-trained colt has enjoyed a highly progressive three-year-old campaign to date, most recently winning the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial at Leopardstown. The son of burgeoning Australian sire Fastnet Rock was promoted to first in the Group Three event, having originally been a head down on John Oxx's Ebanoran, suffering interference in the process. Two of his four career wins have been on ground officially soft to heavy, and the other two have been on soft, as it was at Leopardstown. Weld told the Irish Times: "It was a very good renewal of the Derrinstown, the best renewal in a number of years. There was depth and strength to it and I think it was the best of the Derby trials, outside of the Classics. "It might have been a Group Three but it ran like a Group Two. I've been pleased with the horse since and everything is progressing nicely. "At this time of year, with the climate we have in these islands, ground conditions can change so rapidly but I think Fascinating Rock is comfortable on any kind of ground bar extremes. "He doesn't want it very firm and he doesn't want it very heavy. Apart from that I think he should be fine."
