Latest news with #BoyleSportsMeldStakes
Irish Examiner
17-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Snellen springs surprise in the Meld Stakes
A globe-trotting filly, trained by Gavin Cromwell, Snellen proved a shock winner of the Group 3 BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown, pipping odds-on favourite Purview. Ridden by Shane Foley, deputising for the suspended Gary Carroll, the 16-1 shot came from last to first, challenging down the outside to lead at the furlong pole and dug deep to see off Colin Keane's mount by a short-head, with a three lengths back to long-time leader Galen. Tight for room early in the straight, Purview squeezed through and had every chance through the final furlong. He stayed on but was narrowly denied. 'She had a really good run in Ascot and is a solid filly,' said winning rider Foley. 'The race worked out lovely, in a small field. I was able to take my time, which is perfect on her. She picked-up better than I expected off the turn and, when it mattered, she found plenty. 'It was a very nice spare to pick up, but I'm sure Gary will be back on her the next day.' The Joseph O'Brien-trained Queen Of Hawaii built on a promising debut run at the Curragh to take the one-mile Irish Stallion Farms EBF 2-Y-0 Fillies Maiden in convincing fashion from front-runner Minerva. Dylan Browne McMonagle delivered his challenge turning for home and, in command before the furlong-pole, the Kingman filly stretched away to triumph by two and a half lengths. 'She had a lovely run in a strong maiden and came forward from it," said O'Brien. 'She appreciated stepping up to a mile and you'd have to be impressed by the way she won. 'If she's to keep to a mile we'll have to wait. But she's in the Silver Flash here next week and the Debutante and they're options if we decide to drop back to seven furlongs.' Fifth in the Albany at Royal Ascot last time, Fairy Oak, ridden by Colin Keane, who completed a double on Noel Meade's newcomer Heiselectric in the 10-furlong maiden, made all to justify 10-11 favouritism in the opening two-year-old maiden, outpointing promising newcomers Yellowstone Lake and Morehampton. 'She was entitled to win her maiden,' stated trainer Michael O'Callaghan. 'Colin felt she had sharpened up from Ascot and that she'd prefer faster ground. She'll step back up in class — she's in the Lowther and has a few other big entries. She's a real two-year-old, very straight-forward and a real trier.' Similar front-running tactics paid off for Chris Hayes on board 33-1 shot Time Bender in the Irish EBF Auction Series 2-Y-0 Maiden, Bill Durkan's charge holding on by almost two lengths from Joltin, despite jinking right close to the line. 'He's been working well with Parkside Lad and the barrier-trial he was going to was cancelled, so we had no option but to come here,' explained Durkan's assistant Gary Gannon. 'He's a nice horse, from a nice family, and open to plenty of improvement. And he's for sale.' And 11/4 favourite Tatum brought up doubles for Noel Meade and Chris Hayes when staying on dourly to foil Louiescall, narrowly, in the Champions Festival Handicap.
Powys County Times
16-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
All eyes on Purview in Leopardstown's Meld Stakes
Dermot Weld plans to take it 'one day at a time' with the exciting Purview, who gets the chance to live up to his reputation in the BoyleSports Meld Stakes at Leopardstown on Thursday evening. The Juddmonte-owned son of Kingman won his only outing at two and briefly looked like giving subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix a real race in the Leopardstown Derby Trial. Weld resisted the temptation to run him in a Classic thereafter, giving the imposing colt time to fill his frame, and he is now ready to get back to action. 'It's nice to have him for what is an excellent renewal of the race. You've got horses rated 115 and 113 in the race, so it's running at probably Group Two level rather than Group Three,' said Weld. 'You've two horses rated above him and he's a big horse that's developing all the time, that's why I waited with him, but I see him running a very nice race. 'He's grown, he's developing and he's a big horse, so I've just given him time to fill into his big frame.' On his big-race entries in the Irish Champion Stakes and the Arc, he added: 'Let's see how he gets on and take it one day at a time. Let's see how we do on Thursday and go forward.' Aidan O'Brien's Expanded, unplaced in both the 2000 Guineas at Newmarket and the Irish equivalent, looks to get back on track while Joseph O'Brien's Galen, who beat Coronation Cup winner Jan Brueghel in April, sets the standard.
Powys County Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Powys County Times
Meld Stakes next for Purview, says Weld
Purview, who caught the eye when second to subsequent Eclipse winner Delacroix in the Leopardstown Derby Trial, will be seen next in the BoyleSports Meld Stakes on July 17. Dermot Weld has pinpointed a return to Leopardstown for the Juddmonte-owned colt, having resisted the urge to run in any of the Classics to date. Winner of a Dundalk maiden on his debut, he briefly looked like giving Delacroix a race before the displayed his turn of foot, but Epsom third and Curragh fourth Tennessee Stud finished behind him to give further credence to the form. 'He's a big, immature colt and we are delighted with the way he's coming forward. I've always said that next year will be his year,' Weld told Racing TV. 'The plan is to look at the Meld, definitely. 'I was always confident about my fella, even though Delacroix went to the Derby and was very disappointing, he then came back and ran a brilliant race. 'My fella is what he is himself, if you know what I mean, he's a likeable colt and I expect him to run a very nice race.'
