Kitty Hawk could be another Bolger high-flyer
Bolger, who has now saddled twenty-six two-year-old winners in Ireland this season, has high hopes for both fillies, daughters of Galileo, sire of stable star New Approach.
After Teacht An Earraigh, having only her second start, outstayed her rivals in the Peter Keatley Curragh Environmental Groundcare Maiden, Bolger explained, “She has the makings of another nice filly and will have no problem staying a mile and a quarter next season.” He added, “She might take us to York next year, for the Musidora.
Later Kitty Hawk Miss produced a similarly gutsy, staying performance to land the fillies maiden at the expense of Almass, prompting Bolger to comment, “She’s in the same league as the last filly. I’ll enter her for a mile listed race at Newmarket next week and we’ll see how she is before deciding whether to send her.”
He continued. “She ran well on her debut but disappointed next time. She hit a bit of a flat spot in her work and, even ten days ago, she was showing us very little. It was only in the last few days that she picked up and proved she was in the same form as when she had her first run. She’ll hopefully develop into a nice staying filly.”
In the other juvenile action, Michael Kinane showed no signs of jet-lag after his overnight flight from Toronto when partnering the John Oxx-trained favourite Age Of Chivalry to victory in the Valerie Keatley Memorial Race.
Neil Jones’ Invincible Spirit filly confirmed previous course and distance form with La Sylvia to record an emphatic win. John Oxx said: “She’s a nice filly and has done well for us. Five or six furlongs, with some give in the ground, is what she needs. She’s speedy and should be capable of running well in better company next year. She could be a listed filly.”
Oxx quipped, “I need a few sprinters because most of mine need a trip.”
Robbie Osborne confirmed that King Jock will return to race in Dubai early in the New Year after the six-year-old, confidently ridden by Pat Shanahan, scored a smooth success in the Peter Keatley Curragh Equine Groundcare Race.
“It was suitable race for him and it worked out well,” said a delighted Osborne. “The main worry was the ground, but Pat said he handled it well enough. It’s good for him to get his confidence back and, all being well, I’ll run him two or three times in Dubai after Christmas.”
It was a day to remember for young Sean McGuinness (18), from Blackpool in England, who recorded his first racecourse success on 16/1 shot Kilmannin in the Stephen Quirke Memorial Apprentice Handicap.
McGuinness brought the seven-year-old, trained by his boss of two years Harry Rogers, from last to first to peg back Oddshoes close home and celebrated by punching the air with delight.
Paul Townend produced Sheer Silk with a strong late surge to win the Charlie Keatley Memorial Handicap to give Charles O’Brien a welcome end-of-season success.
O’Brien said: “The rain came just in time, because she likes to get her toe. I’ll try to find a seven furlong handicap for her before the end of the season. She’s a half-sister to Prime Luce and will stay in training next year.”
“That was a great ride by Shane,” declared Eddie Lynam after Herbert Crescent got up close home to win the seven-furlong nursery, “We timed it well too. It’s our first winner of the season at the Curragh.”
Herbert Crescent which prevailed in a three-way photo-finish is bound for the Sales next week.
