Royal Ascot: Dermot Weld admits unlikely passage campaigned

Royal Ascot gold cup hero rite, Dermot Weld has admits it is unlikely the passenger will be campaigned over hurdles this season. At the Cheltenham Festival, Rite Of Passage six years old has won two of his three outings end timber

Dermot Weld trainer said, "He's here at Rosewell House and is in great form. He was a bit stiff and sore after he won the Gold Cup so we gave him time out and he came back nicely. We were going to go for the Melbourne Cup but then we decided we'd give him a bit more time and we've yet to decide whether we go hurdling with him this winter. It would appear less likely and obviously we'd like to have a crack at winning another Gold Cup at Royal Ascot.'

Melbourne Cup won the Profound Beauty in 2008 but in this year replacement failed to figure for which has been retired from racing.

At the races Weld told, "She's been retired honourably to stud and she's been a wonderful mare to train. She's been so consistent. A mile and a half to a mile and six (furlongs) was her trip, which is why we thought she would be a suitable Melbourne Cup horse. If she can breed horses with the courage that she had and they have her will to win, there's going to be some very good horses from her".