Dermot Weld landed another big overseas prize when Pine Dance sprang a surprise in the American Derby at Arlington Park in Chicago last night.

His colt started 15-2 outsider in a field of four for the Grade Two event, having finished only seventh in a handicap at the Curragh on his previous start.

But he fully justified the transatlantic trip as he came through a gap on the rail to lift the nine-and-a-half-furlong event by a length and a half under Eddie Ahern.

British challenger Hymn, trained by John Gosden and like Pine Dance racing on the drug Lasix for the first time, finished second, a neck in front of Del Mar Show.

Spanish colt Suances was forced to miss the turf contest due to an injury sustained on the eve of the race.

Weld, champion trainer in Ireland six times, has consistently impressed with his campaigning overseas.

In 1993 his Vintage Crop was the first northern hemisphere-based horse to land the Melbourne Cup.

And three years earlier Weld became the first European trainer to win a leg of the US triple crown when Go And Go took the Belmont Stakes.

'I`ve won on every track in America that I`ve sent a horse to except Arlington, so I had to rectify it,' Weld said after Pine Dance`s success.

'It`s the best turf track in America.'

His three-year-old is likely to run next in the Secretariat at Arlington on August 19th. - PA