Zabalan wins Naas maiden for Weld/Roche

Trainer Dermot Weld registered his third winner in three days at Naas today as his Aga Khan owned Zabalan easily justified 4/9 favouritism to win the Book Hospitality Online Maiden.

The son of Dutch Art had been placed in each of his three previous maiden starts and today, under Leigh Roche, readily swept aside his rivals for a four and a half lengths win over Costa

Weld, who is chasing his 18th Royal Ascot winner with Haripour in Friday’s Queen’s Vase, later stated “he did what you'd expect and had the form to win the way he did.

“We'll go for a handicap with him. He's consistent and is the same horse that went to Cork. He ran a good race in Cork to finish second and ran a good race to finish third at Dundalk and was also third at the Curragh before that.

“He's run to the same level there and he's won. That's all he's had to do.

“A mile-and-a-quarter could be his right trip as he's by Dutch Art - we could look at something at Galway with him.”

Weld's previous winners were gained with a double at Cork on Sunday.

Quotes from Gary Carson