Search
Cheltenham 2024
- Main Site
- Cheltenham Home
- Cheltenham Cards
- Cheltenham Results
- Cheltenham Offers
- Cheltenham Odds
- Cheltenham Tips
- Cheltenham News
- Prestbury Cup
- Cheltenham Videos
-
Cheltenham Statistics
- Leading Trainer
- Leading Jockeys
- Leading Owners
- Previous Years
- Previous Appearances
- Breeding Profile of Winners
- Lady Jockeys at The Festival
- Leading Jockey Award Winners
- Most Successful Jockeys of All Time
- Current Jockeys Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Jockey In..
- Leading Trainer Award Winners
- Most Successfull Trainer All Time
- Current Trainers Competing at Cheltenham
- Most Successful Trainer In..
- Cheltenham Trainer/Runner Index
- Desktop Site
Cheltenham 2024
- irishracing.com
- Cheltenham
- News
- Mia Maria off the mark for Weld
Michael Graham
Mia Maria off the mark for Weld
Mia Maria sheds her maiden tag
© Photo Healy Racing
Mia Maria was a warm order to land the fillies' maiden in the Curragh and she did so with the minimum of fuss.
She was last seen finishing third behind Pink Dogwood at Gowran Park in September on heavy ground.
Punters sent her off the even-money favourite to score which she did by three parts of a length.
She travelled well for Oisin Orr just behind Bellakis and Guinevere before tanking into the lead racing past the two marker.
The aforementioned duo quickly came under pressure as Mia Maria put herself well in charge in the final furlong. Bellakris (4/1) kept on to her credit and closed at the finish without ever looking like catching the snug winner. Jazz And Blues came through for third, a further three lengths away, at 16/1 from 25/1.
Dermot Weld said: “She did it nicely. It was a good confident ride from Oisin, she just got a little bit tired going to the line.
“We'll look for a winner of one or a Listed race for her, maybe Gowran or somewhere.
“She's a nice filly in the making. She's tall, lean and progressive.
“I thought she'd win and she did it nicely.”
Newcomer New York Ballet reared leaving the stalls and came out without jockey Declan McDonogh.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson