Options open after Pollen pounces

Connections of Pollen are looking to step the filly up in class after she finished with a rattle to land the Keatley Groundcare Irish Lincolnshire at the Curragh.

Estrela Brage looked to have matters sewn up when putting distance between himself and his rivals from a furlong out but Pollen (7-1) kept responding to Wayne Lordan’s urgings and slowly reeled in the leader to score by a head.

Fozzy Stack, son and assistant to winning trainer, Tommy was delighted in the aftermath of the valuable event and believes the four-year-old may benefit from a step up in trip.

“She did it well in the end. We might step her up in trip as ideally she wants a mile and a quarter,” said Stack,

“We will see where we go but we’ll try and get some black type for her now. She likes that cut in the ground.”

Jim Bolger enjoyed a fine opening day of the season with Oh Goodness Me’s success in the Lodge Park Stud European Breeders Fund Park Express Stakes the second leg of a treble on the card for the trainer.

Dermot Weld’s Mad About You was sent off the red-hot 3-10 favourite for the Group Three contest and travelled like the winner for much of the way.

However, both her stablemate Firey Red and Oh Goodness Me came by her inside the final furlong and it was the latter who edged the verdict by a short-head under Davy Moran.

Bolger said: “The trip is maybe a little on the sharp side and I was worried about the ground beforehand but she will be a big improver this year.

“I now have to make up by mind between the Musidora Stakes, both the Irish and English 1000 Guineas and the Irish and English Oaks.”

Bolger had earlier struck with Three Rocks who came from last to first in the the Join “Go Racing In Kildare” Handicap under Kevin Manning having stood still when the stalls opened.

Bolger added: “I wouldn’t have a lot that would love the ground at the moment but he is one. He probably lost his way a little bit after he won last year.”

And Bolger completed a great afternoon’s work as the Manning-ridden Toraidhe (2-1 favourite) landed the concluding Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden.

King Ledley looks a juvenile with a big future after running out an impressive four-and-a-half length winner of the Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund Maiden.

Winning trainer Kevin Prendergast said: “We always thought he was a nice horse but the ground is just a bit tacky and we were slightly worried about that.

“He was very professional about his work and he always went well. The Goffs Million here later in the season will be his long-term target.”

John Oxx’s Zaralanta (6-4) justified substantial market support to make a winning debut in the newmarketracecourse.co.uk Maiden under Mick Kinane.

Oxx said: “She is a nice filly and we will run her in the Athasi Stakes over seven furlongs – I am not sure she will get any further.

“She likes cut in the ground, so trip and ground could be important to her, but she is smart and straight forward and not at her best yet.”