Bolger can teach O’Brien another lesson
JIM BOLGER may be forgiven for thinking he taught Aidan O’Brien too much when the latter was his assistant, but the master has the opportunity to put one over the apprentice in today’s Racing Post Trophy.
Bolger has been credited with launching and nurturing the careers of some of the biggest names in Irish racing at his Co Carlow base, but he has been a mighty trainer in his own right in the past three decades and
(Doncaster, 3.25) could hand him another big day this afternoon.
O’Brien needs just one more winner to edge past Bobby Frankel’s record of 25 Group One winners in a season and if he doesn’t achieve victory with one of the four runners he has in today’s prestigious juvenile event, there are a clutch of Ballydoyle inmates charged with completing that mission in France tomorrow, not to mention a raft of Breeders’ Cup contenders next weekend.
Bolger will be hoping to delay the inevitable coronation by 24 hours with his son of Vocalised, who boasts the presence and ability to mix it with Saxon Warrior and The Pentagon judged on his victory in the National Stakes at the Curragh last time.
Verbal Dexterity let his class do the talking on that occasion, striding clear of a decent field late on after being wound up in the style of a strong stayer mid-race. That victory was achieved in a smart time and his running style suggests that Bolger’s colt looks likely to relish the step up to a mile today.
Given his two career wins have come on easy ground, news that some jockeys felt the ground yesterday was softer than the official description won’t be a disappointment to his wily trainer.