Altesse comes good in determined style

Placed six times in stakes company over the last two season, the Jim Bolger-trained Altesse deservedly earned winning black type when getting the better of Ballybacka Queen by a half-length in the listed Noblesse Stakes, feature on Student Day in Leopardstown yesterday.

The five-year-old daughter of Hernando, whose only previous success came on her debut - in a Killarney maiden - stayed on stoutly, under Kevin Manning, in the testing conditions (ground description was changed to ‘heavy’ after the first race, following torrential showers) to master the runner-up well inside the final furlong, with longshot Island Remede in third.

“She’s been very consistent and goes on all types of ground, except firm,” stated Bolger, who trains Altesse for owner-breeder Mrs Kirsten Rausing, “If she gets a good pace, the trip doesn’t matter to her. She’ll probably go for the Vintage Crop Stakes (Group 3) in Navan.”