RACING: Dermot Weld's Dress To Thrill landed the Grade One Matriarch Stakes at Hollywood Park on Sunday night.
The three-year-old filly saw off the challenge of multiple Grade One winning Golden Apples to take the $500,000 prize.
Pat Smullen produced the daughter of Danehill late to snatch victory in the final strides, with Neil Drysdale's outsider, Magic Mission, back in third.
The ex-Andre Fabre inmate Banks Hill, who is now with Bobby Frankel, finished fourth after making much of the early running.
Weld, who was named yesterday as the Philips manager of the month for November for his victory in the Melbourne Cup with Media Puzzle last month, was delighted to land another high-profile international event.
He said: "She's a very good filly. She loves a firm turf. It was a very fair track. We beat the best fillies in America. Her dam (Trusted Partner, trained by Weld to win the Irish 1,000 Guineas) was tough and genuine, and this filly is the same."
It is possible that the Moyglare Stud-owned filly will now remain in America with Christophe Clement.
Jockey Jerry Bailey believes a change in tactics may be required for Banks Hill now as she drew her third blank since switching to America.
He said: "I just think that she doesn't want to be too much in the mix. She wants to be a few lengths back."
Ruby Walsh is fit to return to riding action after shaking off the effects of a bone-crunching fall at Fairyhouse on Sunday. He was badly shaken when crashing out on Boneyarrow in the Pierse Group Drinmore Novice Chase.
