Goldrun camp aim for Ouija Board rematch
The two high-class mares were only separated by the narrowest of margins in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday, with Ouija Board battling back to deny her rival after an epic struggle.
Connections of the former are thinking about a tilt at the Baileys Irish Champion Stakes on September 9, a race trainer Jim Bolger has in mind for Alexander Goldrun.
The daughter of Gold Away was a close third to Oratorio and Motivator in the prestigious contest last year and Bolger said: “It’s been well publicised she’s going to Leopardstown. She’s got two options there – the Matron and Champion Stakes.
“We would be leaning towards the Champion Stakes at the moment but we’ll wait and see what turns up in the line of a colt.”
Reflecting on the five-year-old’s race at the weekend, he added: “It was a top-drawer effort, as was the winner’s.”
And after that fantastic showing, Bolger has allowed his stable star to take things easy since her return from Goodwood.
“I don’t know much about her because she’s been lying down since she got back so we are going to wait until she gets up and feels well in herself,” he explained.
A mile-and-a-half campaign had been considered for Alexander Goldrun at one time but that has now been ruled out.
“We’ve got the idea of a mile and a half out of our systems,” said Bolger.
“We didn’t get a fair trial at it – it was a mile and a half in Dubai (fifth behind Heart’s Cry in the Sheema Classic) but things didn’t work out.
“We’ve enough options without going that route.”
Meanwhile, Rajeem, shock winner of the Falmouth Stakes at Newmarket’s July meeting, is to be prepared for an autumn campaign.
Clive Brittain’s filly was due to run in the Vodafone Nassau Stakes at Goodwood on Saturday but was ruled out of the Group One contest with an infected heel, for which she was put on a course of antibiotics.
“She’s in the Yorkshire Oaks but that would be doubtful now. We probably won’t run her again until the Sun Chariot (at Newmarket on September 30),” said the Newmarket trainer.
