Weld off the mark with Solitaire After having to settle for minor money in the opening two races Dermot Weld got off the mark for the week in Galway when True Solitaire claimed the Claregalwayhotel.ie (C&G) EBF Maiden. Pat Smullen tracked Spader in the seven-furlong contest before claiming the front-runner turning for home. The 6/4 shot kept on well in the closing stages to post a comprehensive four-and-three-quarter length success. 66/1 shot The Moore Factor kept on to fill the runner-up spot while 11/8 favourite Unicorn also ran on to finish third after running greenly throughout. The winner had been runner-up on his debut at Gowran Park last month when sent off an even-money shot. "He did what I expected him to do and is a solid, tough sort - the sort you want for this race," said Weld. "The ground is slow and it was a long way to the top of the hill today but once he got racing, it was all over very quick. "He has a lot of physical development to do and isn't yet the finished article but will get a mile this year. The Group 3 on Champion Stakes Day is a very suitable race for him next. " Smullen added:- "He hoped this horse would be good enough today. He had a lovely run first time in Gowran and I always felt he would handle an ease in the ground and climb the hill well. "To be fair his last furlong was his best furlong and he'll probably go further than today's trip. "He's mentally behind what he is physically. He's looks a lovely mature horse but mentally he's behind. It took a while for the penny to drop but I think there is a lot of improvement in him." (Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)
