Sikandarabad holds off Saafarr© Photo Healy Racing
Sikandarabad completed a quick double in the maidens at Galway tonight for Dermot Weld when burning off his rivals from the front in the Caulfield Industrial EBF Maiden.
Pat Smullen soon had the 10/11 shot in the lead in the seven-furlong contest and he was pressed throughout by main market rival Saafarr (13/8).
The Aga Khan-owned gelding got his rivals off the bridle going to the two furlong pole and he kept on strongly in the straight to settle matters.
Saafarr stayed on again late on but could only get within three-parts-of-a-length of the winner at the line.
Sikandarabad was making his first start since finishing second on his sole juvenile start at Leopardstown in June 2015.
"He did it well. His only run was a good one at Leopardstown, and he had the form. He was held up in the spring and we gelded him which knocked the stuffing out of him,” said Weld.
"He can go forward from here on. The second horse was rated 93 so we are probably looking at a Listed race or a Premier Handicap.
"That was his first run of the season so he'll come on from it. He's by Dr Fong so he'll love top of the ground, and I had a slight concern the ground may have gone on him."
It was a third winner of the festival for Weld and Smullen following the opening night victory of Right Honourable.
Connor King suffered a nasty fall when his mount Sea Captain slipped up after a furlong-and-a-half.
The Corkman was taken by ambulance to Galway Hospital for examination. He was reported to be conscious and moving all his limbs.
He was accompanied to hospital by Turf Club Senior Medical Officer Dr Adrian McGoldrick.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
