Wins for O’Brien, Bolger
IT WAS normal service resumed as the flat season picked up pace with some important trials and the Ballysax Stakes featuring at Leopardstown where Aidan O’Brien and Jim Bolger were among the winners.
Bolger struck first in the 2,000 Guineas Trial, with the well-backed home-bred Poetic Flare (3/1) scoringinnicestylebyalengthanda half under Kevin Manning in Jackie Bolger’s colours.
His daughter, Una Manning, said the horse is entered in both the English and Irish Guineas, as is stablemate and Futurity Stakes winners, Mac Swiney. Plans have not been finalised but these two exciting prospects will be kept apart.
O’Brien had twelve runners in action and brought off a big double with himself and Bolger filling the first two places in the Group 3 Ballysax Stakes. Despite drifting in the betting, Ryan Moore had a convincing two and a quarter lengths to spare on Bolshoi Ballet (2/1) over Bolger’s outsider, Flying Visit (33/1).
This was Aidan’s fourth successive win in the Ballysax which can be a decent guide to the Epsom Derby for which the horse has been cut to 8/1 from 20s by Paddy Power.
The O’Brien/Moore double was completed in impressive style in the Leopardstown Handicap by Sir Lamorak (9/4f). O’Brien was very happy with the run and feels he may step up into one of the Classic trials next.
The duo were second in the opening mile maiden with Hms Seahorse (7/4f) behind Jessica Harrington’s O’Reilly (85/40).
Ryan Moore was on a bit of an Irish tour for Aidan O’Brien. He was down the field on two runners at Gowran Park on Thursday and won a five-furlong sprint at Dundalk on Saturday with Cadamosto (7/4), before the serious business at Leopardstown on Sunday.
Jim Bolger sent eleven runners to Gowran over the two days and came away with just one winner, Stylistic Approach (16/1) under Kevin Manning. Most of Bolger’s runners were not strongly fancied, including two spins for his Piercestown apprentice, Willie Byrne.
P.J. McDonald had three winners from his twelve rides (up to Saturday) including a double at Newcastle on Wednesday – Bay Bridge (9/4) for Michael Stoute and Rare Groove (6/4f) for Jedd O’Keeffe. He won at Redcar on Monday on hotshot Ilza’Eem (4/11) for Simon Crisford. He went to Leicester for just one ride on Friday but Al Suil Eile failed to fire.
Pat Dobbs has returned to Britain after another good season in the United Arab Emirates and got off to a winning start with his only ride at Leicester on Mars Landing (5/2) for Michael Stoute.