Pale Mimosa takes Saval Beg honours

The Dermot Weld trained Pale Mimosa made a highly satisfactory return to action as she took the feature race at Leopardstown this evening, the Listed Seamus & Rosemary McGrath Saval Beg Stakes.

The four-year-old daughter of Singspiel, who is owned by Dr Ronan Lambe, won the Listed Galtres Stakes at York last August and then finished fifth at Longchamp in October.

Making her seasonal reappearance this evening she was sent off the 5/4 favourite under Pat Smullen and she raced in third for much of the contest, as El Salvador set a strong pace in front under Joseph O’Brien, with Missunited racing in a close second.

Pale Mimosa closed on the front pair approaching the straight and she improved to lead over a furlong out, keeping on well from there to score by two and a half lengths at the line.

Missunited ran a fine race to take second under Seamie Heffernan for Mick Winters at 4/1 while El Salvador was a length and three parts back in third at 5/2.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "It was a very pleasing introductory run.

"She has been slow coming into her coat so we took our time with her. She real only came into it in the last ten days and considering that I thought it was a very good performance.

"Pat said it was a very true run race and the second is very consistent.

"She is entered in the Gold Cup (at Royal Ascot) but obviously she is in the same ownership as Rite Of Passage.

"He is in very good form and he will run in it unless the ground comes up firm, in which case she will run in it.

"One concern I had coming here today was ring rust and her fitness might get found out.

"We will look at all the nice staying fillies races across Europe for her now and we might travel with her. The Lillie Langtry and the Parkhill are possibilities.

"She stays well and she gave a good heave. We should see a nice improvement from her."

Additional reporting by Gary Carson