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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Weld & Smullen double up with Rock

Mon 4th May 2015, 16:54

Fascinating Rock is ridden out by Pat Smullen with Parish Hall (left) back in secondFascinating Rock is ridden out by Pat Smullen with Parish Hall (left) back in second
© Photo Healy Racing

Fascinating Rock made it two from two this season as he took the Group 3 So You Think EBF Mooresbridge Stakes, providing Pat Smullen and Dermot Weld with a double on the card.

The four-year-old son of Fastnet Rock won the Listed Heritage Stakes on his seasonal reappearance at Leopardstown last month and he was sent off the 2/5 favourite to follow-up here.

Settled in second he came with his challenge under two furlongs out and he hit the front inside the final furlong, keeping on well under pressure to beat Parish Hall (7/2) by a length and three parts.

Dermot Weld said afterwards: "He did what you would expect him to do. He's a very good horse. He could go for a lot of those races that Famous Name ran in before, and in the second part of the year could have more serious challenges.

"He loves soft ground. He’s a more relaxed horse this year than last year. He’d never want firm ground. The Tattersalls Gold Cup could be considered if the ground was suitable."

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.