'Newmarket is a strong possibility' - Homeless Songs satisfies Weld's hopes

Saturday: Leopardstown

Homeless Songs went some way towards satisfying Dermot Weld's desire for a Classic contender this season, putting in the performance of the day.

It is 19 years since Weld won the 2,000 Guineas with Refuse To Bend, ridden by the great Pat Smullen, carrying the silks of Moyglare Stud.

Homeless Songs, who also carries the iconic black and white silks of Moyglare, confirmed herself an ideal candidate for Weld to return to Newmarket by winning the Ballylinch Stud Priory Belle 1,000 Guineas Trial.

Chris Hayes, who was riding the three-year-old filly for the first time, manoeuvred his mount perfectly in the straight with Homeless Songs sprinting clear of the field and putting the race to bed in a matter of strides.

In doing so, Homeless Songs earned herself a quote of 12-1 for the 1,000 Guineas, a race Weld has never won before, but one he identified as the likely target in his post-race debrief.

Weld said: "I would say Newmarket is a strong possibility. I'd be very hopeful that she would be able to carry that form over to the mile. We'll see how she comes out of the race and then decide where we go next.

Watch again: Homeless Songs takes 1,000 Guineas trial for Weld

"We just wanted to see how we got on here today and I thought her performance was very professional. It was a very good renewal – the standard of the fillies in the race was very high and Chris said she just took a blow going to the line."

Homeless Songs returned the 6-1 winner and put a length between herself and the Joseph O'Brien-trained Agartha at the line. It was the pace the daughter of Frankel showed in victory that impressed the trainer most.

Weld added: "She has a lot of pace. I thought she was very professional. Chris rode her for speed and you saw what pace she has – she settled it in three strides."

Chris Hayes with Homeless Songs after her smart 1,000 Guineas trial win at LeopardstownCredit: Patrick McCann (racingpost.com/photos)

Weld and Hayes were denied doubles on the day when Enthrallment chased home Simply Glorious in the 1m2f handicap, while O'Brien gained some compensation of his own for Agartha's second-place effort when taking the mile handicap with the well-backed Haziya.

'If we have a Guineas colt, it's him'

Ger Lyons has made a solid start to the new campaign and, less than a week after bagging the feature Madrid Handicap at Naas with Markaz Paname, snared the 2,000 Guineas Trial with Dr Zempf.

You would think that taking out major prizes on each weekend would be something to celebrate, even for a trainer as established as Lyons, but there was to be no overreaction after Dr Zempf crossed the line in front.

Dr Zempf may have won the Ballylinch Stud Red Rocks 2,000 Guineas Trial in comprehensive fashion but, as far as Lyons was concerned, it was a case of 'a lot done but more to do' with the colt.

He explained: "You can only beat what's in front of you. We won't be breaking out champagne or anything but we're happy. He is still in the pot for the Guineas – if we have a Guineas colt, it's him."

Lyons added: "He has a run under his belt now and we can go to Newmarket at the end of the month if we need to but we're a long way off a horse rated 120. There should be plenty of improvement in him and there needs to be for where he is going."

Replays, results and analysis

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