REPORT FROM THE CURRAGH:JIM BOLGER had a memorable 2008 that included seven Group Ones and the former champion trainer got off to a 2009 flier at the Curragh yesterday when the 12 to 1 shot Oh Goodness Me was the centrepiece of a 273 to 1 treble on the first day of turf Flat racing in Ireland this year.
Bolger’s first runners of the year also yielded an earlier handicap success for Three Rocks and a victory in the concluding maiden for Toraidhe. But it was the Lodge Park Stud Park Express Stakes that provided a body blow to odds-on punters.
Mad About You started a 3 to 10 favourite for the Group Three highlight and those odds looked about right as she secured a dream run up the inside of her pace-forcing stable companion Firey Red at the two-furlong pole.
However, Pat Smullen quickly started to show distress signals and Firey Red looked to be in control of her stable-mate throughout the closing stages. Shane Gorey’s hopes for a 20 to 1 surprise were pinched on the line though by Oh Goodness Me.
The second-string of the Bolger team got her nose in front right at the finish to give claimer Davy Moran another black type victory at the Curragh after Heliostatic’s Silver Stakes win in 2006. It also quickly got Bolger back into Group One mode.
“I now have to make up my mind about the English Guineas, the Musidora, the Irish Guineas, the Irish Oaks and the English Oaks. They will be all entries for her,” he said.
“We thought the trip would be a little sharp today and we were also worried about the ground. But she will be a big improver this year.”
Oh Goodness Me was an appropriate winner of the race for coincidence backers as the Park Express Stakes is named after the dam of the Derby winner New Approach. This year Bolger’s Classic focus could be on the Derby hope Gan Amhras as well as last year’s Dewhurst winner Intense Focus who is as low as 14 to 1 for the 2,000 Guineas.
“We are very happy with him and he is well forward. I don’t know if he will have a run before the Guineas. It is undecided. It could depend on ground and weather,” Bolger added.
Dermot Weld was understandably disappointed with Mad About You and reported: “She would have needed that run.”
Three Rocks missed the break in the six-furlong handicap but looked a progressive type to come round the field and get the better of Emily Blake while Toraidhe, who is part-owned by the Tyrone GAA star Peter Canavan, should improve again for his half-length defeat of Born To Rock.
A hundred yards from the line in the Keatley Groundcare Irish Lincolnshire it looked all over bar the shouting for Estrela Brage who had led for much of the race under Declan McDonogh.
However, the ex-French horse had no answer to the decisive late kick of Pollen who beat him a head to score for Wayne Lordan and Tommy Stack.
“I was cursing 50 yards from the line but she did it well – in the end!” smiled Stack’s son and assistant, Fozzie. “We will try and get some black type with her and maybe step her up in trip to a mile and a quarter.”
John Oxx and Mick Kinane have Classic hopes of their own this season with the likes of Arazan and Sea The Stars and they got a morale-booster from Zaralanta’s debut victory in the maiden (6f).
“She isn’t at her best yet and we won’t be in a hurry with her. Maybe the Athasi will suit. She likes a cut in the ground and she may not get a mile but she’s smart,” Oxx said.
“She was showing us a good bit last year but got sore shins at the wrong time.”
Kevin Prendergast secured the first two-year-old prize of the year as King Ledley powered clear of Chelsea Lately and the trainer reported: “We were worried about the ground but he was very professional. Long-term we are thinking of the Goffs Million.”
Johnny Murtagh got off the mark for the season in the seven-furlong handicap as Chorus Of Angels go the better of Mr Topaz.
