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Punchestown 2024
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Donal Murphy
Bianca leads home Weld 1, 2
The striking grey Carla Bianca on her way to victory under Pat Smullen
© Photo Healy Racing
Dermot Weld saddled a one, two in the last at Navan, the Irish Stallion Farms EBF 3yo Fillies Maiden, with Carla Bianca leading home stablemate Starlet
The winning daughter of Dansili was just three parts of a length second to Australia on her debut at the Curragh last July before finishing fourth behind Rizeena in the Group One Moyglare Stud Stakes.
She disappointingly failed to score on her next two outings in maiden company at Dundalk and Naas respectively and she was sent off a 7/2 chance today stepping up in trip to a mile and a quarter for the first time.
Having raced prominently throughout she hit the front under two furlongs out, stretching clear when ridden inside the final furlong, going on to score easily by five lengths.
The aforementioned Starlet (20/1) finished second on her debut under Leigh Roche (his third second of the day), while Tap Dancing who attempted to make all, was a neck back in third under Billy Lee for David Wachman at 7/1. Shell House was sent off the 9/4 favourite and she finished fourth for Aidan and Joseph (two pounds overweight) O’Brien.
Dermot Weld said afterwards: "She promised a lot. It is nice now to win her maiden.
"We will look at Stakes races next and she has already been fourth in one and I’d love to win a Stakes race with her.
"It is interesting the way she stayed and it was lovely to see. She was a big weak filly, she is starting to fill her frame and she enjoyed that trip.
"I was delighted with the run from the filly in second. She is very well-bred and she is a lovely filly in the making."
Additional reporting by Michael Graham