Trial Stakes success for Homeless Songs

Homeless Songs entered the Classic picture in Leopardstown's Group 3 Ballylinch Stud 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes today, quickening smartly to win for trainer Dermot Weld and jockey Chirs Hayes.

The Moyglare Stud-owned and bred daughter of Frankel was unplaced at Group 1 and Group 3 levels last year and was today ridden by Hayes for the first time. Held up in rear of mid-field, Homeless Songs (6/1) quickened past rivals with two furlongs to race, led inside the final furlong and scored by a length from Agartha

Well backed 5/4 favourite Sacred Bridge met traffic problems, was hemmed in by the winner with a furlong and a half to race and in the end failed to recover, finishing fourth.

Paddy Power later cut Homeless Songs to 12-1 from 33-1 for the English 1,000 Guineas, with Weld stating “it was a very good performance, she had been working extremely well and Chris gave her a very confident ride. He took her time on her, she settled nicely, and he rode her for speed. With the pace she has, she settled it in three strides.

“We have to speak with her owner Eva Maria Haefner and we'll see where we go with her. She's in both the English and Irish 1,000 Guineas so we'll decide which will probably be her next race.”

He added “it was seven (furlongs) today and I'd be very hopeful that she'd be able to carry it up to a mile. We'll see how she comes out of the race and then decide where we go next.

“We just wanted to see how we got on here today and I thought her performance was very professional.

“It was a very good renewal - the standard of the fillies in the race was very high and Chris said she just took a blow going to the line.”

Quotes from Gary Carson