Galway now beckons for 'smashing' Weld winner

Trained by Dermot Weld and ridden by Chris Hayes, Genuine Article justified market confidence in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

Gelded since finishing third over the course and distance on his sole start as a juvenile, the Muhaarar bay was available at 2/1 in early shows, eventually going off the clear market leader at 11/10.

Settled behind the leaders in third, he took closer order on the outer from early in the straight and was ridden to challenge over a furlong from home.

In the famous Juddmonte silks, he soon edged to the front and kept on well in the closing stages to prevail by three-parts-of-a-length.

The well-bred Simspon's Paradox (4/1 from 9/4 early) ran his best race to date, finishing second under Shane Foley, while the front-running Toll Stone (10/3) was two-and-a-quarter lengths back in third.

"He is a smashing horse. He took a while to come to hand and it was a good bit of placing. I don't know how strong a maiden it was but it was nice to see him do it the way he did and he will improve a ton," Hayes commented.

"Having previous course experience means a lot around here - that bottom bend is tight. I thought he'd win first-time out here last year but he was too green.

"We'll see what the handicapper does with him but there's a nice three-year-old handicap at Galway which might suit."

The winner is out of Bona Fide, a daughter of Frankel who won twice from four starts, finishing third in a Listed contest on her final start.

STEWARDS REPORTS

The Raceday Stewards enquired into an incident in the final one hundred and fifty yards involving Genuine Article (GB), ridden by C.D. Hayes, placed first, Simpson's Paradox ridden by S. Foley, placed second, and Toll Stone, ridden by W.J. Lee, placed third, where it appeared W.J. Lee had to take a check. Evidence was heard from the riders concerned. In his evidence W.J. Lee stated that the two leaders rolled left close to the finish forcing him to take a check. S. Foley stated that his mount was tiring when he rolled slightly left close to the finish. C.D. Hayes stated that his mount leaned left in the final one hundred and fifty yards but felt he corrected him quickly. Having viewed the recording of the race and considered the evidence, the Raceday Stewards took no further action.

S. Foley, rider of Simpson's Paradox, trained by Mrs John Harrington, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that his mount hung left under pressure.

W.J. Lee, rider of Toll Stone, trained by K.J. Condon, reported to the Clerk of the Scales that he took a check approximately one hundred yards from the finish.

Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes