Weld maintains momentum with Espoir

Dermot Weld continued his recent upturn in fortunes when saddling Espoir D’soleil to land the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden at Leopardstown.

The Rosewell House team have endured a difficult time over the past few months but this brought the stable tally to five winners in as many days.

The well-bred Galileo filly showed the benefit of her debut at Galway last week to record a decisive success.

Pat Smullen sent her to the front over a furlong out in this 1m1f event, and she kept on well inside the final furlong to beat Dochasach by a length and a half.

The always prominent Breeze finished the same distance further adrift in third.

Weld said, “She did what you would expect her to do. It was a nice workmanlike performance, and she’s progressed from her first run at Galway. She’s a lot sharper and learned from Galway.

“The step up in distance helped her. They went a much more sedate pace which gave her a chance to find her feet today. She could be a Stakes filly next year.”