'CROOKED LEGS' ZOE PROVES TO BE GORGEOUS

Karl Hedley reports on a stunning victory at Galway

- Karl Hedley

The seven day Galway Festival went ahead behind closed doors and there was certainly a hint of the old normal as Dermot Weld took the opening maiden courtesy of Blue For You.

There were clear jitters in the market for the Aidan O’Brien-trained favorite Wembley and despite taking a narrow lead in the closing stages, it was plain sailing for the well-backed Blue For You, son of New Approach.

Oisin Orr slotted in behind the leaders on the rail before angling out for a run on the turn for home and win by three-quarters of a length. Dermot’s son Kris said: “He had to improve from his first run and we were optimistic that he’d handle the ground. His dam won at Cork in very soft ground. He toughed it out well and has shown a good attitude and hopefully, he’ll be up to Stakes level.”

The horse has been given an entry for the Champions Juvenile Stakes (Group Two) at Leopardstown next month and has to have a live chance if improving again.

The feature race on an opening evening was the Connacht Hotel Handicap worth in excess of €75,000. Sharjah has been a prolific winner over hurdles in recent years for Willie Mullins and despite being all of the rages in the betting ring, the seven-year-old had no answers when asked serious questions by Patrick Mullins in the closing stages. The pair trailed in a distant tenth behind the ultra-impressive Princess Zoe.

Tony Mullins and Finny Maguire combined with the readily-improving grey filly. She has proven to be a revelation since joining the yard at Wateree Stud having finished runner up on her debut at Navan before outstaying Tara Dylan over a mile and a half just nine days previous.