The Master of Rosewell House claimed his twelfth Irish Classic at the Curragh this weekend as Bethrah fought tooth and nail down the straight to win the Irish 1000 Guineas carrying the colors of Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum. Bethrah was far from favored – the filly went off at 16/1 odds – and her winning margin eclipsed the efforts of four other contenders who bunched together just a half-length back. Credit Pat Smullen, whose brilliant tactics netted Weld’s stable jockey his seventh Irish Classic. But all credit is due to Bethrah. Said Weld of his runner, “She is tough and genuine.”

Of her owner, he was more effusive. “First of all I am delighted to have trained my first Classic winner for Hamdan Al Maktoum; he has been a very loyal supporter over the years,” said Weld. Knowing the Irish Raider as we all do, it should come as no surprise that he has high hopes for her future:

“Today was the day and we will start looking at the future tomorrow. I will speak to Sheikh Hamdan but I don’t think she is a filly that has to be restricted to a mile. She looks like she will get a mile and a quarter and today she wanted every yard of the Curragh mile.”