RACING:LOCH GARMAN lunged late to grab Group One glory for Co Carlow trainer Jim Bolger in the Criterium International at Saint-Cloud yesterday. This Group One win comes on just the second start for Loch Garman, who won a Navan maiden on debut just over a week ago.
Ralph Beckett’s British raider Anna’s Pearl made most of the running and looked the most likely winner when seeing off US Law at the top of the home straight.
Loch Garman was ridden far more patiently by Kevin Manning, but the jockey was rowing along by the time they rounded the final bend.
Despite running green once switched wide, the son of Teofilo found top gear in the final furlong and swept by the Jim Crowley-ridden Anna’s Pearl to take top honours. US Law was third.
Homebred by Bolger, Loch Garman is a half-brother to a winner out of the winning Giant’s Causeway mare Irish Question, a half-sister to winners out of an unraced half-sister to Group One Phoenix Stakes winner Eva Luna and Group Three winner Cois Na Tine.
Hughie Morrison’s British raider Chil The Kite was well beaten in the Group Three Prix Perth over a mile. Don Bosco took top honours, with favourite Pollyana fourth and former John Oxx inmate Takar, now with Rod Collet, sixth.
Meanwhile, Pat Shanahan had his first National Hunt winner when 25 to 1 outsider Posiden Sea landed the concluding Clonmel Oil Chase November Flat Race.
Under a fine ride by Jane Mangan, the Sagamix gelding won by seven and a half lengths from Bell Weir. “I always thought he was a very nice horse but I was very disappointed with his first run and he received a bad ride at Killarney,” said the Kilkenny-based trainer.
