Sense of Purpose combine forces with Pat Smullen to land the Ballyroan Stakes for the fifth time for trainer Dermot Weld
Sent at 6 to 1, Sense of Purpose landed the Group 3 Ballyroan Stakes for trainer Dermot Weld, who teamed up with jockey Pat Smullen to win the Ballyroan Stakes for the fifth time in ten years.
The 4-year-old chestnut filly, Sense of Purpose, ran an impressive race and made every yard in the 1 mile and 4 furlongs event on 4 August, 2011.
Apart from the winner Sense of Purpose, there was Aidan O’Brien trained 7 to 4 favourite to win the race, Marksmanship, who was valiant in defeat, but gave Sense of Purpose a run for her money.
The daughter of Galileo finally put a leg over Marksmanship as she defeated him by half a length in the Group 3 race.
The Challenge Stakes runner-up Bob Le Beau was also running in the Ballyroan Stakes for trainer Mrs. John Harrington. Ridden under jockey F M Berry, Bob Le Beau tracked leader Sense of Purpose at second place and was taken under a strong drive entering the
straight.
Under immense pressure the pair kept on well till the final furlong, but couldn’t reach the winner, as the finished third on a 5 horse field.
David Wachman trained Mount Athos was sent at 9 to 4 before the race, finished a place above from the last runner, Leceile. Mount Athos under Jamie Spencer was supposed to do well, but dropped back to fourth place early after entering the straight.
The 4-year-old bay gelding kept a neutral pace and not really under pressure kept on to finish fourth.
Sense of Purpose, the only filly among four other runners, except for Leceile from U.S.A was the other female, a mare to be precise trained by Noel Meade finished fifth out of five runners.
After two wins in a row for Sense of Purpose, trainer Dermot Weld is considering alternative targets for the filly, possibly a trip down under to participate in the Melbourne Cup in the year 2012.
The champion filly was the real start of the show, landing her second start at Leopardstown in two go’s is doing something.
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