Teofilo: more questions than answers

WHEN Teofilo proved far too good for Holy Roman Emperor in the National Stakes at the Curragh last month it seemed to confirm what Jim Bolger has been telling us all along, that this is the best colt he has ever trained.

Prior to the National Stakes, I think most were rather sceptical. We knew Bolger wasn’t a man given to making silly statements, but still harboured doubts he could be better than St Jovite, who had, after all, a runaway win in the Irish Derby and success in the King George at Ascot on his record.

Teofilo still had it all to prove, but when he galloped Holy Roman Emperor senseless, we wondered why we didn’t just listen, take Bolger at his word and get enough out of Teofilo to at least pay for a winter holiday.