Solar Verde strikes for Weld and Smullen Solar Verde, who was always prominent, stayed on strongly under Pat Smullen to win Gowran Park’s opening seven furlong maiden in the Khalid Abdullah colours. The Dermot Weld-trained three-year-old filly had been well-supported on her first two efforts at Naas and the Curragh where both times she was sent off favourite but finished 12th and sixth respectively. She was allowed to go off at 7/1 on this occasion and beat 7/4 market leader Glor Na Mara from Jim Bolger’s yard by a length-and-a-half. Fred Fenster was placed for the sixth time in-a-row when taking third place three-parts-of-a-length away at 5/2 (backed in from 3/1) for Eddie Lynam. Winning trainer Dermot Weld thinks highly of his charge. He said: “She’s a very well bred filly and did it nicely. She appreciated the fast ground and the trip. Pat gave her a lovely ride. “She might run once more this season just to get a bit of black type for her.” Michael Graham
