Dozen in a fortnight for red hot Weld

Dermot Weld sent out his twelfth winner in the past fortnight as Nonchalant made a successful debut in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Cork.

Completing a double on the day for Weld and stable jockey Pat Smullen following the earlier victory of Alkasser the grey son of Oasis Dream overcame some greenness to edge out hot-pot Kerkeni in this extended mile event.

The pair drew clear in the straight and it was the 4/1 chance that proved stronger in the closing stages to score by half a length, with a yawning gap of over six lengths back to Sar Oiche in third.

Kris Weld said “The concern beforehand was that his rivals had experience and form. He’s still babyish and has a lot to learn but he should improve from it, and we’ll see what the handicapper does before making a plan.”

(TW & AM)