Dermot’s ready to Shek it up
DERMOT WELD is keeping his options open for Shekhem, narrowly beaten by Innisfree in the Group 2 Beresford Stakes at the Curragh last September.
Winner of his maiden in Listowel the Aga Khan-owned Zoffany colt coped well with an ease in the ground as a juvenile, an ability which will influence Weld’s plans.
The Master of Rosewell House said yesterday: “Most of mine need an ease, so I’ll be watching the weather before making my plans. One thing is certain – I’ll be in no rush or hurry.”
And, when asked about Shekhem, he responded: “I’m happy with him and he likes an ease. He’s in the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the Derrinistown Stud Derby Trial and the Gallinule next week, so we have plenty of options.”
Stressing that he’ll exercise “a bit of patience” with his string and expecting to have only two runners at Naas on
Monday, Weld is also uncertain about a startingpoint for the exciting filly Amma Grace.
“I entered her for the Salsabil (at Navan next Wednesday), but I’ll probably wait,” said Weld of the Galileo filly, winner of her maiden at Leopardstown in October. “She’ll start back over a mile and a quarter and we’ll see where she takes us from there.”
LHRI yesterday outlined its flat programme for July, when there will be no less than 29 flat fixtures.
The programme includes a few notable changes, including the addition of three Group 2 events to the Curragh’s Irish Oaks fixture on July 18/19.
Cork will celebrate its re-opening, after its use as a HSE Test Centre, on Sunday, July 5, and similarly, Dundalk will re-open, with its new upgraded surface, on July 12, when the Ballysax Stakes (traditionally an early-season Derby trial) will be the highlight, causing the Nijinsky, at Leopardstown, to move back a week, to July 16.