Weld eyes Matron for 'extraordinary' Homeless Songs after sidestepping Falmouth

Dermot Weld is eyeing an autumn campaign for Ireland's highest-rated three-year-old Homeless Songs, with the Matron Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend in September at the forefront of his mind.

A showdown between Homeless Songs and Inspiral had been in store in the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, only for fast ground to rule the impressive Irish 1,000 Guineas winner out at the 11th hour, and it won't be happening in the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket on Friday either as Weld withdrew his filly at the five-day stage.

The trainer is happy to bide his time with the superstar filly, who is rated 120 following her wide-margin Classic success over subsequent Oaks heroine Tuesday, a rating 1lb higher than Gold Cup winner Kyprios.

Weld said: "Homeless Songs is on a break at the moment and we're looking towards the autumn with her. The Matron Stakes would be one of the races I have in mind for her.

"She has been in tremendous form since you saw her last and I have been happy with her in every possible way. She did an outstanding piece of work before Royal Ascot, and yes it was frustrating to have to miss the Coronation Stakes, but it was the right call and I'm very comfortable I made the right decision.”

'She has been in tremendous form since you saw her last and I have been happy with her in every possible way'Credit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Chris Hayes won his fourth Irish Classic when guiding Homeless Songs to glory in the Irish 1,000 Guineas in May and he cannot wait to get back on the filly he has described as the best he has ridden.

Hayes said: "Homeless Songs is the sort of filly you dream of riding. She is extraordinary and I have never sat on anything as good as her in my life. She's the best I've ever ridden."

When asked whether missing the Coronation and Falmouth Stakes is frustrating, he replied: "Of course it's frustrating from a rider's point of view, but her trainer is a remarkable man and he will always do the right thing by the filly.

“For him to have shown the patience he has with her is incredible and it is all for the good of the filly. There was no point running her on ground she wasn't comfortable on and interrupting her season with a setback or something.

"She could not possibly have been in any better form before Ascot, then a heatwave comes along. The week after Ascot it never stopped raining. It was just unfortunate but the thing about Homeless Songs is that she could be an even better four-year-old and there is no better man to get the best out of her if she does stay in training than Mr Weld."

Hayes won the Matron Stakes in 2013 on La Collina for Kevin Prendergast, while Weld has won the fillies' Group 1 with Dress To Thrill in 2002 and Emulous in 2011.

It is the first Group 1 of Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown on September 10. The same day could feature a mouthwatering clash between Luxembourg and recent Eclipse winner Vadeni in the Irish Champion Stakes.

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