Hall’s well with Parish
Ridden by Kevin Manning, the Teofilo colt produced a workmanlike — if not impressive — display despite hanging left briefly, to see off Inis Meain and Steps To Freedom, to the relief of his trainer Jim Bolger, who admitted: “We nearly lost him last year. He had a very bad infection in his near hind joint. It responded to the anti-biotics, but then burst out and damaged a tendon behind. But all the damage is repaired and everything is intact.”
Bolger added: “I always had confidence in my horse. But I was concerned about the ground and the fact that he was off for so long. He’s very idle at home and will improve no end from this run.”
And, when quizzed about plans for the four-year-old, he responded: “He’ll come back here for the Moorsebridge Stakes and the Tattersalls Gold Cup and then we’ll have to travel. I’d say we’ll be stepping up to a mile and a half as the season goes on.”
George Kent, who trains with a restricted licence outside Tramore and champion apprentice Ronan Whelan, savoured a first Group 3 success when Custom Cat proved a shock, all-the-way winner of the Big Bad Bob Gladness Stakes.
The 25/1 shot dictated the pace and, in the final furlong, battled tenaciously to hold the challenge of Nephrite by a half-length with La Collina a nose away third. A delighted George Kent Jnr. explained: “Today was a fact-finding mission and that tells us where we’re at. It shows he can be competitive at this level. There’s a good programme of races for horses like him.
“We have a good team at home and every small yard needs a horse like this. Ronan knows him well and he’s very tough. We’ll see how he comes out of the race and might have a look at the listed race (the Heritage Stakes) at Leopardstown next week.”
Ronan Whelan completed a double when Tantalising got trainer Patrick Prendergast off the mark for the new campaign by landing the Irish Field Handicap.
Tantalising, which won her maiden at Bellewstown for David Wachman, held on gamely under Whelan to hold the fast-finishing Fantasy King by a neck, prompting Prendergast to comment: “She picked up a lot of cheques without winning last year and deserved that. She’ll make a lovely broodmare one day and, although she was only rated 77 today, I hope to get some black type for her.”
Aidan O’Brien is likely to supplement Moth for the English 1,000 Guineas following her impressive win in the Cancer Clinic Research Trust Fillies Maiden.
Confidently handled by Joseph O’Brien, the Galileo filly came from well off the pace to lead inside the final furlong and quickened away in eye-catching style to beat Wannabee Better by four-and-a-half lengths.
“She did it well and is able to change gears,” commented the winning trainer, “We thought she was nice last year, but we were making too much use of her. She quickened up well, and could go for a Guineas trial. Or she could go straight to Newmarket.”
The O’Briens, Aidan and Joseph, doubled-up when debutant Ruler Of The World swooped late to foil Manalapan in the concluding ten-furlong maiden, the pair finishing seven and a half lengths clear of the remainder.
