Sessa strikes late to land Paddy Power Stakes The Dermot Weld-trained Duke De Sessa just prevailed in a thrilling three-way finish to the Paddy Power Stakes at Leopardstown,. Thunder Kiss looked to have made a winning move when hitting the front a furlong-and-a-half from home in the Group 3 contest but was strongly pressed by Beamish in the closing stages. It was Duke De Sessa who finished best of all however, under Chris Hayes, and just had his head down at the right time to pip Thunder Kiss by a short-head at the line. There was only a head back to Beamish in third. It was a great result for owners Newtown Anner Stud as they were responsible for the first two home. Duke De Sessa was a Group 3 winner as a juvenile last season and was stepping up to a mile-and-a-half for the first time this afternoon. He was backed from 12/1 this morning into 6/1. Weld said:_ “That was a good performance on his first time over a mile and a half. “He’d been working very well and that is why we left him in the Champion Stakes up to the four-day stage. The big question was whether he would get the mile and a half and he got it well. “He loves that ground and is an improving, progressive colt. “I would encourage Maurice (Regan, owner) to keep him in training as a four-year-old because I think he is only beginning. “He’s in a Group 1 in Germany in about four weeks’ time but we’ll review that plan for him. “He won the Eyrefield Stakes here as a juvenile and the plan was the same to ride him from off the pace as he has a lot of pace.” Speaking on RTE Hayes admitted he didn't know if he had prevailed at the line:- “I couldn't pull him up cantering back and I said to Dylan, who looks after him, who got up and he said 'you did, of course'. “I'm delighted, he was left in the Champion Stakes and I thought it wouldn't be the maddest thing to run him in it but obviously the boss knows more about it than I do and left him in this. “It's the first time all year he's got his conditions. The trip was a little bit of an unknown but the lads have done a great job at home getting him to settle and switch off. “At halfway I was on a long rein, which is not like him, but he was just loving it. I flicked him wide in the straight because it is getting poached. “The boss said to arrive in the last 100 yards so we got it right anyway. Thankfully it worked out.”
