No place like Leopardstown for Famous Name

Famous Name duly made it nine wins at Leopardstown when the course specialist proved too good for his three rivals in the Group 3 Meld Stakes.

The 4/9 market leader was brought wide by Pat Smullen to pick off pace-setting Jan Vermeer and then fend off runner-up Dunboyne Express (7/2) by half a length.

Kris Weld, representing his father Dermot, said: “He’s just wonderful. He’ll go for the Bayerisches Zuchtrennen on Sunday week in Munich which is a Group 1.

“The ground has gone very soft but he likes it.”

Jockey Pat Smullen gave some insight into the tactical nature of the race. He said: “It was a hard race to ride with the other horse [Jan Vermeer] going so far in front given that he had so much ability.

“I didn’t want to give him too much rope, but I didn’t want to pull Declan’s horse [Dunboyne Express] into the race either.

“He did it well under his penalty. He has relaxed in his racing and is a very happy horse.”

The Bayerisches Zuchtrennen race in Germany is run over about one mile two furlongs and is for three-year-olds and older. Dermot Weld has long stated his wish to win a Group 1 with his illustrious six-year-old son of Dansili. Creekside beat Jan Vermeer for third by half a length.

Moran Gra and Blaze Brightly were non-runners from the original six declared to run.

Michael Graham