Midnight Music calls tune to give Weld a treble
Report: Galway, Monday
Carlton Hotel Galway City (Q.R.) Handicap 2m, 4yo+
TRAINER Dermot Weld secured a brilliant treble on day one of the Galway festival when Midnight Music powered home to land the feature €70,000 handicap for Lady O'Reilly.
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The 11-1 chance seemed to have plenty to do when the field turned into the home straight but she produced a strong finish inside the final furlong to storm to victory by two and a quarter lengths.
Weld, who has finished top trainer at the popular festival on an amazing 27 occasions, won the opener with Train Of Thought before he added another winner to his ever-increasing Galway tally with Thunder Mountain, who was impressive in the maiden under Pat Smullen.
Ridden by amateur rider Jane Mangan, Midnight Music found plenty for pressure up after Clarach cruised into the lead under a confident Declan Lavery.
Clarach looked the most likely winner with two furlongs to run but Midnight Music went through the gears and flew past her rivals to win well from the staying-on Cry For The Moon.
Clarach took third ahead of 20-1 shot Scots Gaelic and Weld was quick to praise the winning jockey.
"It was a lovely ride from her," said Weld. "Normally, Robbie [McNamara] would have ridden her but she's a small filly and Jane is a very talented rider claiming 7lb and I just thought it would be the right move. It was justified.
"I've watched her on the television and I haven't seen her ride very much at the racetracks. Her father and my mother are very good friends and there is a long family association. She has inherited all of the riding ability of her family.
"She did exactly what I wanted to do, we had a worry whether the filly would stay two miles so I said for her to take her time.
"When she was passed coming down the hill, she took her time, got her filly balanced and produced her in the last 100 yards.
"It was lovely to win today and know we see she can win over the distance, it opens up all kinds of possibilities."
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