Free To Speak will end his career teaching jockeys but he showed he can still teach his rivals on the track a lesson by running out a two length winner of Tralee's Harp Ruby Stakes last night.

The seven-year-old has now earned over £110,000 in win prizemoney and will race again next season before being retired to the Kildare-based apprentice centre. Dermot Weld will miss the old warrior when that happens and yesterday drew comparisons with another old favourite Vintage Crop.

"He stood in this winners' enclosure, too, and this guy has those same qualities of courage and determination. He is a great old campaigner," said Weld who also won the opening race with Theoretically.

Free To Speak, who had to give 6lb and more away, overtook Moiseyev outside the furlong pole as Tiger Shark faded and had more than enough in hand to hold the bottom-weight Danse Classique.

"We should keep them all until they're seven," quipped the Moyglare Stud spokesman Stan Cosgrove.

Theoretically is the first horse Weld has trained for Hong Kong-based Michael Bastion and after the filly justified strong market support in the opener, the trainer nominated the Park Stakes on October 2nd for her next race.

"Workmanlike," was Weld's description of her performance. "She is smart and I thought she would win a little easier but she was a little green."

Cirvin rather surprisingly took up the running after the third last of the maiden hurdle but this horse who is usually held up ran on well for Norman Williamson to beat Eduardo with the favourite Graduated only third.

Balakar, one of the joint favourites for the 11 furlong maiden, got back up under a strong drive from Niall McCullagh to get the better of Kalahari with the other joint favourite Grand Ambition only fourth.

The 12/1 shot Clonmel Commercial won his fourth race in the handicap hurdle, overhauling the favourite Tower Project who made his move at the third last. Tower Project's trainer Thomond O'Mara had compensation later, however, with Truscott in the seven furlong handicap.