Radharcnafarraige relishes drop in trip
Fourth to Memory in both the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot and Newmarket’s Cherry Hinton Stakes last summer, Radharcnafarraige clearly relished the return to six furlongs, hitting the front early in the final furlong before holding Knock Stars by a head with Peahen a neck away third.
In his post-race comments, Bolger admitted: “I probably made a mistake running her over a mile. Six furlongs looks her trip and we’ll plan more of the same for her.”
Radharcnafarraige, was bred by Bolger, who has leased the filly to TV personality Grainne Seoige (currently working in London), with all prizemoney won going to the Galway-based National Breast Cancer Research Institute.
The Bolger double was initiated when the well-touted, Sheikh Mohammed owned newcomer Zip Top landed the Irish Stallion Farms 2-Y-0 Maiden at the expense of the Aidan O’Brien trained Tenth Star, on which Joseph O’Brien carried 3lb. overweight.
Kevin Manning dictated the pace on Zip Top, a son of Smart Strike, which appeared to idle in front before holding Tenth Star by a neck.
Bolger, not known for hyping his charges, described Zip Top as “a smart horse” before outlining likely plans for the colt. “He could go the route of a good two-year-old and might come back here for the Tyros Stakes (July 21). Kevin said he could drop back to six furlongs. I have three two-year-olds for Sheikh Mohhamed, two fillies and this lad, and an unraced three-year-old.” Stan James introduced Zip Top at 33/1 for the 2012 2,000 Guineas.
Bolger was denied victory in the opening two-year-old fillies maiden when his debutante Rigoletta was collared inside the final furlong by apparently unconsidered 14/1 shot Yellow Rosebud, another newcomer, trained by Dermot Weld.
Yellow Rosebud, owned by Dr. Ronan Lambe, quickened in good style to triumph by a length, prompting Weld to declare: “She did it nicely and has the makings of a lovely filly. She has a lot of talent and is open to lots of improvement. She’ll have a couple of weeks off and will be prepared for the Debutante Stakes (Group 2) at the Curragh in August).”
Weld was later out of luck with 4/7 hot-pot Notable Graduate, dropping in trip, in the finale, the listed Nijinsky Stakes.
Having tracked stable companion Triple Eight for most of the trip, Notabe Graduate was outpaced turning for home by Haziyna and Banketers Bonus before rallying under Pat Smullen’s strong handling to edge ahead in the dying strides, only to be denied, on the line, by the fast-finishing filly Laughing, ridden by Wayne Lordan.
