Carla Bianca is driven out by Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
Carla Bianca made all as she got back to winning ways in the feature at Leopardstown, the Group 3 Meld Stakes.
The Dermot Weld trained daughter of Dansili won four in-a-row last season but was beaten on her seasonal reappearance at Gowran, finishing a well-beaten fourth to Legatissimo.
She was second to Words on her last start in Munster Oaks at Cork and she was sent off the clear 6/4 favourite today as she dropped back in trip to a mile and one.
Having lead from the start she raced wide into the straight, in search of the better ground, as did all her rivals.
She was ridden over a furlong out and kept on well in the closing stages to see off the challenge of Elleval by three parts of a length.
The runner-up was returned a 7/1 chance under Connor King for David Marnane while Brendan Bracken was a further length and a quarter back in third. Queen Nefertiti was backed from 11/2 to 9/2 on-course but she could only manage a disappointing fifth.
Weld said afterwards: "It was ground we didn't want. She's in the Nassau at Goodwood and we'll consider it.
"Don't judged her on today but what you can judge her on is that she showed a bit of guts and courage, got in and battled. She did the job and what more can we ask.
"She's in the Give Thanks Stakes at Cork also and several races. Her last run was excellent against Words giving her 17lb. She has put up two very good runs now over different distances.
"What I liked about her today was that she made all and when they came to her she found another gear and battled well.
"There were questions marks about how dependable she was at the start of last season but she came forward and it's the same this year."
STEWARDS REPORT
The Turf Club Veterinary Officer examined Battle Of Marathon (USA), trained by A.P.O'Brien, at the request of the Stewards and reported the animal to be post race normal.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
