Currency Converter and Pat Smullen© Photo Healy Racing
Epsom Derby winners Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen’s excellent form continued at Leopardstown today when their newcomer Currency Converter caused a 20/1 ‘surprise’s the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund (C & G) Maiden,
The American bred son of Exchange Rate was produced by Smullen to lead a furlong out and in the end stayed on well for a two and a quarter lengths win over fellow unconsidered newcomer and 33/1 shot Drake Passage
The Ballydoyle trained newcomer Douglas Macarthur had been all the rage all yesterday evening and today and while returned the 2/5 favourite, never landed any sort of a blow. The son of Galileo appeared to race quite green and in the end finished last of the six runners.
Harzand’s trainer Weld was one of the few unsurprised by the 20/1 winner, later explaining “why he was 20/1 I don’t know, as he’s a nice horse that has been working well.
“He could come back here for the Group 3 Tyros Stakes over seven furlongs. He's a good actioned horse and likes top of the ground.”
By Tom Weekes, quotes from Alan Magee
