Dermot Weld and Pat Smullen, successful with Vinnie Roe in the Jefferson Smurfit Memorial Irish St Leger last Saturday, were again on the mark when Beat The Heat ended a frustrating sequence of placings at Fairyhouse.
The Moyglare Stud Farm home-bred made all in the Dunboyne Maiden, and kept on under pressure inside the final quarter mile to hold off Flying Knight by a length and a half. 'He's rated 90, so he deserved to win a maiden', said Weld, who will now aim the son of Salse at either a handicap or a winners-of-one.
The Rosewell House trainer also gave his thoughts on the pros and cons of a possible Melbourne Cup bid with Vinnie Row. 'His age (three-year-old), and the fact that he has not been laid out for the race are the main drawbacks', said Weld before adding, 'However he is an improving, tough, genuine stayer. We will make a decision one may or the other by the start of next week as he would have to go into quarantine for a trip to Australia'.
The Weld/Smullen alliance were narrowly denied a double on the afternoon in the following Mullinam Handicap, where Standing Applause just lost out to Panchita after a protracted duel in the straight.
Smullen is still seven clear (69-62) of John Murtagh in the jockeys championship as the later was also in the winners enclosure after Keen Look justified favouritism in the Tattersalls (Ire) Median Auction Maiden.
Colourful Monaghan trainer Oliver Brady was in full cry after Balapour took the opening Tolka 3YO Maiden Hurdle under Joey Elliott. Brady had a captive audience when celebrating the four length victory of Galtip Flyer in the winners enclosure, and he is considering a quick follow up in a winners hurdle at Listowel next Monday.
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