Choice fuels Melbourne dream

Trainer vindicated over Melbourne entry

Last updated: 3rd September 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

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Dermot Weld

Weld: On target at Leopardstown

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Galileo's Choice landed the Kilternan Stakes at Leopardstown for Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen.

The five-year-old was a winner over hurdles at the Galway Festival and subsequently followed up over two miles and a furlong at Killarney.

Dropping back to a mile and a quarter here, Smullen's mount (13-2) took a couple of lengths out of the field before the turn for home and maintained his advantage to score by a length and a quarter.

Aidan O'Brien's Look At Me finished off her race well to fill the runner-up spot, but her stablemate Viscount Nelson, the 13-8 favourite, was a big disappointment.

Weld said: "That was very pleasing, and it was a very good ride by Pat.

"He's a very adaptable horse and I thought he'd win as he'd been working very well. I wanted to see if he had this kind of pace.

"I've entered him in the Melbourne Cup. Everybody thought I'd gone mad, but I might not have.

"He's a horse with a lot of talent and a horse who has had lots of little problems, but hopefully he can continue on his way."