Dermot Weld showed why he has such a tremendous record around the world by displaying his unique art with a double on Champions Day at Ascot.
The master Irish trainer has captured major global events such as the Melbourne Cup twice and the Belmont Stakes in America, as well as Classics at home and in Europe plus of a host of Group One races.
But even he admitted his deep sense of achievement in bringing Rite Of Passage back after 510 days off the track to win the British Champions Long Distance Cup.
That was the first leg of a double completed by Sapphire in the Fillies’ and Mares’ Stakes.
Tendon problems had kept eight-year-old Rite Of Passage on the sidelines and Weld was concerned about the horse’s lack of fitness but the 2010 Gold Cup winner came good.
Held up in the rear by Pat Smullen he burst through a gap to lead well inside the furlong and beat Aiken by a neck with Askar Tau in third.
“He`s just a special horse and deserves to come back. You must remember he set a track record when he won the Gold Cup, but he`s had serious ongoing tendon problems, so it is a special day to bring him back,” Weld said.
“A lot of times I thought he`d be retired but he`s always had this great will to win and it was a matter of me keeping him sound trying to get him fit.
“I had a huge concern on his fitness.
“I’ve won two Melbourne Cups, but when he came here and broke the track record in the Gold Cup it was one of my most special achievements.”
Rite Of Passage was third to Peddlers Cross at the Cheltenham Festival in 2010 before he won the Gold Cup and Weld revealed a tilt at one of the icons of the jumping game was not out of the question.
“I’ll speak to his owner Dr (Ronan) Lambe, but we could look to take on Big Buck’s (in the Ladbrokes World Hurdle) at Cheltenham.
“He’s a super leaper and jumps for fun.”
Sapphire completed the Weld team’s day when she stayed on strongly to deny perennial bridesmaid Shirocco Star in the Fillies’ And Mares’ Stakes.
Relishing the testing conditions the four-year-old filly pulled nicely clear in the closing stages to win by 2-1/4 lengths.
“I’ll have to speak to the owner, but I would say it is unquestionable she will stay in training next year and in the back of my mind she might be a filly for the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe,” Weld said.
