Ghaamer off the mark in style

The Dermot Weld-trained Ghaamer justified his short price with a cosy victory in the mile maiden at Cork this evening.

Pat Smullen had the 1/3 shot (4/5 this morning) to the fore throughout and he disputed with Vim for the lead in the early stages.

The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Hard Spun colt had his rivals hard at work from the two pole as he cruised in the lead.

Smullen pushed him out inside the final furlong and he always had too much in hand for Point Piper who stuck on for pressure in the straight after being ridden along from halfway.

The two-and-a-quarter length winner had been runner-up on his two previous outings, including at Gowran Park late last month.

“Pat was very pleased with him,” reported Weld.

“He's a stakes calibre horse. He loves top of the ground and he would have won on the bridle today if he had had it.

“I might bring him back to seven furlongs. Seven or a mile on top of the ground is what he's looking for.

“He will continue to progress – I assure you.”

(Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes)