Weld predicts a nice future for Masaff

Dermot Weld saddled his first two-year-old winner of the campaign when Masaff defied market weakness to win the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden (Plus 10 Race) at Leopardstown. California Daddy s form figures now read '222' but when the favourite got in the clear from the two pole the mile event looked his for the taking.

Under Declan McDonogh Masaff (14/1) may have been a little green, but he knew enough to beat the market-leader by a length.

"He's a nice colt but still very immature. He's a horse I've always liked, worked very nicely the other morning and handled the ground well," said Weld.

"I'm going to give him a bit of time now, let him fill into that frame of his and hope that he'll make into a nice Stakes horse in the second part of the year.

"He's a half-brother to Massinga who was a very good staying filly I trained for the Aga Khan. A Listed race over a mile would be the plan but that will be a while.

"He jumped the road, ran green off the bend but got his act together to go and win."

(AM & EM)