WELD CLASS
Harzand gives Irish legend his maiden Derby
The 13-2 shot was said to be only “60- 40” to take his chance in the Blue Riband after spreading a plate but showed no ill effects as he travelled sweetly in midfield under Pat Smullen.
The Aga Khan- owned colt powered into the lead a furlong out and always looked in control as he thwarted a late challenge from 7- 2 favourite US Army Ranger by a length-and-a-half.
Idaho (14-1) kept on for third having led two out with the well-backed Wings of Desire (6-1) five lengths adrift in fourth.
Weld said: “It’s wonderful to win my first Derby. We had a huge worry this morning as he spread a plate travelling over and he was a very doubtful runner right up to about an hour before the race.
“But with the tremendous help of all my colleagues and my team, we made it.
“The Irish Derby will probably be his next race. I’ve always believed in this horse and I entered him in the Arc, so that must be a target.”
Bookmakers were impressed with Harzand and he is now a general 10- 1 chance for the Arc at Longchamp in October. But he will not have things all his own way in the big middle distance contests af ter Postponed (8-11Fav) absolutely hosed up in the Coronation Cup.
Roger Varian’s star didn’t make things easy for Andrea Atzeni early on but his class told at the business end with an emphatic four-length defeat of Found (3-1).
Varian said: “Postponed is a remarkably versatile horse. He’s very balanced and just the ultimate athlete.
“The timing for this is right to go straight to the King George now.”
Paddy Power quickly made Postponed their new 5-1 market leader to add the Arc to his impressive CV. Dean Ivory’s 2014 winner Caspian Pr ince (11- 1) regained his Epsom Dash crown by shortheading Kimberella (10-1) in the hands of Robert Winston.