Mustajeeb in front © Photo Healy Racing
The Galway festival seemed to be taking on a familiar pattern after just three races with Dermot Weld having already saddled a double at Ballybrit following the success of Mustajeeb in the Claregalwayhotel.ie Maiden.
The 11/8 joint-favourite (from 6/5) was keen to get on with things early in the seven-furlong contest and soon hit the front under Pat Smullen.
He soon settled and had plenty up his sleeve as market rival Friendship (13/8 into 11/8) tried to throw down a challenge entering the straight.
The Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned Nayef colt stayed on strongly for a two-and-a-half length success.
He was showing nice improvement having been well held in fourth on his sole start at the Curragh in May in a decent maiden.
“He's a nice horse. The original plan was to sit second as we thought Friendship would make it. Obviously that changed rapidly but he settled nicely in front and it was never really in doubt in the home straight,” said Weld.
“He's a progressive colt and I see him up to Group class. He got a bit tired going to the line but that was to be expected as he was in front a long time. He'll make a really nice horse.
“Pat said it's beautiful ground - just on the slow side of good. He's a very good actioned horse and that was my only slight concern.
“He'll handle it firm and had been training very well on fast ground. I just wondered had it gone a bit slow for him.
“He's in the Royal Lodge (Group 2 at Newmarket on 28th September) but we might look for a Listed race at home for him before that.”
