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Hermosa books Fillies’ Mile ticket with Weld Park strike at Naas

Next stop Newmarket for O’Brien winner

Hermosa was rewarded for her fine run in the Moyglare Stud Stakes by landing the Weld Park Stakes at Naas.

Third in the Curragh Group One, the Aidan O’Brien-trained filly made virtually all the running as she went two places better in this Group Three heat over seven furlongs.

Foxtrot Liv tried to keep tabs on her, but was comfortably held by the 5-4 favourite, who crossed the line two and a half lengths to the good under Ryan Moore.

Mick Channon’s British raider Chynna was three lengths away in third.

Hermosa could now head to Newmarket for the Fillies’ Mile on October 12.

“She’s a lovely filly and she’s coming with every run,” said O’Brien.

“She’s a lovely, laid-back filly and is learning with every run.

“I think she’ll go for the Fillies’ Mile. She crying out to go up to a mile.”

Hermosa was completing a quick double for O’Brien and Moore following newcomer Magna Grecia’s success in the opening seven-furlong maiden.

Sent off the 2-1 favourite, the 340,000 guinea purchase showed a professional attitude to sneak through a gap on the far rail, after being just off the pace in fourth place, to grab the lead in the final furlong.

“You’d be delighted with that, he’s a lovely horse,” said O’Brien.

“He was just ready to start today. He’s a possible for the Killavullan or something like that.

“He’s a big, powerful, strong horse. I don’t think you could ask him to do more than that, he was green but when he got straightened up he found plenty.”

Betfair gave Magna Grecia an introductory quote of 33-1 for the Investec Derby.

Cypress Creek made it three on the bounce for O’Brien and Moore when putting up a solid staying performance to land the Group Three Loughbrown Stakes.

The full-brother to Capri had finished last in the Irish St Leger on his previous start behind stablemate Flag Of Honour, but was much more at home at this level and over two miles.

Moore’s mount raced at the rear of the field as his Aidan O’Brien-trained stablemate Zabriskie set a strong pace.

Powering down the centre of the course, the 6-1 chance got the upper hand in the closing stages to beat the 5-2 favourite Twilight Payment by two and three-quarter lengths. Falcon Eight was just a neck way in third.

“He’s a lovely, straightforward, uncomplicated horse. He’s a brother to Capri and he stays very well,” said O’Brien.

“We weren’t sure what was going to happen, but when Seamus (Heffernan on Zabirskie) jumped to make the running and then Kevin (Manning, on Twilight Payment) joined him, there was always going to be lots of pace and it was a proper-run two-mile race.

“He’s a horse that stays very well. He stays forever and will get much further than two miles.

“He’s Kew Gardens’ work companion and that will determine a lot of his time.

“Ana (daughter) rides him every day and I don’t have much to do with him. Ana is more or less training him.”

Cypress Creek was slashed to 20-1 from 66-1 with Paddy Power for the Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup at Ascot.


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