Light too good for boys in Killavullan
Making Light and Pat Smullen lead them home
© Photo Healy Racing
Anyone that thought that Moyglare Stud Farm and Dermot Weld had a nice filly on their hands when Making Light won her maiden at Limerick, had that impression confirmed when she stepped up at Leopardstown to take today's Group 3 Killavullan Stakes.
The successful Tamayuz filly came in for plenty of market-support and she duly supplemented Weld and Pat Smullen's earlier gains in the maiden with Titus
Making Light's fellow 3/1 joint favourite, Holistic Approach (coughing post race), failed by some way to come up to expectations, finishing a tailed off last, but the winner, the only filly in the line-up had enough left to give inside the final furlong to repel Spirit Of Valor by a length.
"I won this race with a filly before, Big Break, and I thought it was the ideal race for this filly," said Weld.
"It was an excellent ride by Pat and he was in the right place at the right time.
"She quickened nicely and did it well. She's a good filly. She was very impressive when she won her maiden and has backed it up in a group race now.
"Hopefully she'll appear in a classic trial here next spring.
"It's been a wonderful year for Pat and I. We've won over 90 races and I think we had 10 group winners apart from the Derby wins.
"Spring, summer and autumn they've been running well and Pat has ridden brilliantly."
K.J. Manning, rider of Holistic Approach, trained by J. S. Bolger, reported to the Stewards' Secretaries that his mount moved poorly.
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Holistic Approach, at the request of trainer, J. S. Bolger, and reported the animal coughing post race.
(GC & EM)