Big race double for in-form Weld Dermot Weld completed a double in the “Guineas trials” at the Curragh this afternoon as Flying Jib took the Canford Cliffs EBF Athasi Stakes, adding to Alkasser’s victory earlier in the Tetrarch Stakes. The daughter of Oasis Dream announced herself as a filly of some potential when landing a Listed race here over a mile last autumn, and connections were a bit concerned about the drop back to seven furlongs for this Group 3 event. Kevin Manning, replacing the suspended Pat Smullen, gave the uneasy 2/1 favourite a strong drive inside the final furlong, getting up in the closing stages. The Khalid Abdullah home-bred had half a length to spare over Peace Burg at the line, with Wannabe Better another length and a half back in third. Weld said, “Kevin rode a double for me a number of years ago at Leopardstown when Pat was away in Australia. He gave her a very positive ride, and the filly responded. “We’ll have to consider her for the Irish 1,000 Guineas. She won a Listed race well here last year, and I think she’ll appreciate a mile. “My one concern today was that it would be a furlong too short for her but she battled well.”
