The two-day Irish Stallion Trail kicks off on Friday and Bolger is backing Mac Swiney to go down a bomb. The legendary trainer also revealed that he plans on supporting the Group 1-winning two-year-old and Irish 2,000 Guineas hero with 20 mares in his first season at stud.

Bolger said, “He's the new kid on the block and he'll be a big attraction. Anybody who goes and sees him on the Irish Stallion Trail, they definitely won't be disappointed.”

He added, “I've 20 mares lined up for Mac Swiney. He's a very meaningful horse to us. We knew from the time he arrived here first that he was special. He's such a good looker. He looked like a real one even from the time he was foaled. Looks-wise, he never disappointed and I'd be very disappointed if he didn't go down well.”

Mac Swiney showed top-class form as a juvenile by taking out the G1 Futurity S. on his final start at two. He built on that promise at three when taking the scalp of his stablemate Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) in the Irish 2,000 Guineas before finishing an honourable third in the G1 British Champion S. over 10 furlongs later that season. 

With that in mind, Bolger says he is confident that Mac Swiney can appeal to every facet of the market and that he is fairly priced at an opening fee of €8,000. 

Bolger explained, “The sprinter/miler types are the ones that are most sought after in the sales ring and Mac Swiney falls into that category being a Group 1 winner at two and a Classic-winning miler at three. I'd be confident that that's the way he will be viewed. If that is the case, I think he'll go very well at stud. I think he's great value and I wouldn't have it otherwise because breeders, now more so than ever, deserve a break. I think he's proper value at that money.”

He added, “Along with his top performances at two and three, he's a great looker with the most wonderful temperament. They are going to find it very easy to manage him at the Irish National Stud.”

It didn't always appear likely that Mac Swiney would be available for Irish or even European breeders. Bolger revealed that there were offers, one in particular to abroad which piqued interests, but in the end, a deal was brokered with the Irish National Stud where Mac Swiney will stand alongside fellow Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Phoenix Of Spain (Ire), Invincible Spirit (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire), Nando Parado (GB), Equiano (Fr) and Elusive Pimpernel. 

Bolger said, “I got a very good offer from abroad and he nearly went away but I wasn't happy about it. Ken [Bolger], my nephew who runs Redmonstown Stud, approached the Irish National Stud and they had a deal wrapped up fairly quickly.”

Mac Swiney's dam Halle Na Saoire (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) is a full-sister to the Group 2 winner Light Heavy (Ire) and he represents a family that Bolger has been involved with since 1994. Amoura (Northfields), then an 11-year-old mare who had produced seven foals and just one winner at the time, was snapped up by Bolger for just $5,000 at Keeneland. 

She would go on to breed Siamsa (Quest For Fame {GB}), the dam of Light Heavy, but more importantly, Halla Na Saoire (Ire), who went on to produce Mac Swiney. 

Not only that, but Halla Na Saoire is also by one of Bolger's most famous homebreds, Teofilo (Ire), so you could say this latest Classic-winning stallion prospect is a Bolger special in every sense of the word. 

He concluded, “It's a family that started out with the Aga Khan followed by Prince Khalid Abdullah and now it's the Irish National Stud and myself. It's very exciting to see him off to stud and I'm confident that he will go down very well.”

The post ‘He’s The New Kid On The Block’ – Bolger Backs Mac Swiney To Be A Hit appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Jim Bolger's homebred raced solely at seven furlongs that year, and his subsequent injury in the spring of 2007 meant that we could only guess at what he might have achieved at three and beyond. By that August he had been retired without ever returning to the track. His racing career may have been cut short, but his stud career has dropped plenty of hints as to what his profile may have been had he raced on.

Teofilo has been far from a one-dimensional stallion in his 16 years spent continuously at Kidangan Stud. This week, he has been back in the news courtesy of his third Melbourne Cup winner in the last six years, Without A Fight (Ire) having followed Cross Counter (Ire) and Twilight Payment (Ire) onto that particular roll of honour. While there are a good number of stayers among Teofilo's top runners – the Gold Cup winner Subjectivist (GB) and Prix du Cadran winner Quest For More (Ire) included – this is by no means his hallmark. If anything is, it's his versatility.

In his first crop Teofilo sired the Dewhurst winner Parish Hall (Ire), and if he looked like the second coming it was perhaps no surprise, as the colt, inbred 3×3 to Sadler's Wells, raced in the same familiar colours of Jackie Bolger, having been bred by her husband Jim, the man born on Christmas Day who masterminded Teofilo's own racing career and has bred a number of his best offspring.

The Irish St Leger winner Voleuse De Coeurs (Ire) was another member of that first crop, and since then Teofilo has been represented by a Group 1 winner from every year of production through to his current crop of four-year-olds, including Irish Derby winner Trading Leather (Ire), Irish 1,000 Guineas and Yorkshire Oaks winner Pleascach (Ire) and the Prix Jean Prat winner Havana Gold (Ire). The latter is of course the sire of the G1 Flying Five winner and rising young sire Havana Grey (GB), giving the line an extra speedy dimension. Among this season's three-year-olds has been the GII Sands Point S. winner Eternal Point (Ire), who has won two graded stakes races this autumn.

About to turn 20, Teofilo is at that stage where, if his influence is strong enough, he should be appearing as the broodmare sire of top winners, and this he has started to do with regularity. Last season's 2,000 and 1,000 Guineas winner Cachet (Ire) and Coroebus (Ire) were both out of Teofilo mares, giving him a notable Classic double. A son of Dubawi (Ire), the ill-fated Coroebus was bred on the reserve cross to that which produced Without A Fight.

Teofilo's run in this sphere is extended by last season's G1 Preis der Diana winner Toskana Belle (Fr) (Shamalgan  {Fr}) and by the previous year's Irish 2,000 Guineas winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), while the dual Group 1 winner Dreamloper (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) is also out of one of his daughters.

Given his location, it is no surprise that Teofilo has ended up covering a number of Dubawi mares, and there are now seven stakes winners bred on this cross from 49 named foals. His 24th Group 1 winner, Without A Fight, who started his career with Simon and Ed Crisford before staying permanently in Australia with Anthony and Sam Freedman, was bred by Dubawi's owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum. His dam Khor Sheed was bought for the sheikh as a yearling for 42,000gns by Luca Cumani. The half-sister to the Group 1 winner Prince Kirk (Fr) (Selkirk) had already passed through the Tattersalls sale ring as a foal, where she was signed for by Joe Foley at 22,000gns.

Khor Sheed, later trained by Cumani, won the Listed Empress S. at Newmarket on only her second start at two, and the following year claimed another Listed win as well as the G3 Premio Sergio Cumani, named in honour of the trainer's father. She has produced four winners to date, Without A Fight being way out in front on the list with an impressive 11 wins from his 23 starts. He became only the twelfth horse to win both the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups, and he has won a further two group races in Australia this year, as well as the G3 John Smith's Silver Cup and two Listed contests in England.

The December before Without A Fight made his debut, Khor Sheed returned to Tattersalls and was bought from Godolphin by Harry Dutfield for 26,000gns.  The Havana Gold foal she was carrying was born dead and she produced two subsequent fillies for Dutfield before being returned barren to the Tattersalls February Sale this year. By this stage, Without A Fight was a Group 3 winner and the mare's first foal, the unraced Sharja Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), had produced the Grade II winner Avenue De France (GB) (Cityscape {GB}).

Mick Donohoe signed for Khor Sheed on her fourth visit to the sale ring, buying the 15-year-old on behalf of Yulong for 28,000gns.

“She is in foal to Lucky Vega so that was a nice little update,” Donohoe confirmed. “She's a stakes-winning Dubawi mare and she had bred a stakes winner, and one of her daughters had bred a stakes winner, too.”

He added, “Harry Dutfield was very forthcoming with a genuine reason why she was barren, so she just made sense, and obviously the Teofilo horse was a good horse anyway, so it all worked out.”

On Wednesday, it was announced that Subjectivist, the aforementioned Royal Ascot winner, who also won the G1 Prix Royal Oak and G2 Dubai Gold Cup along with the most coveted staying prize of them all, would be standing at Alne Park Stud next year.  Havana Gold sadly died earlier this year, leaving only Massaat (Ire) and Parish Hall (Ire) of Teofilo's sons at stud, through it is easy to imagine the line continuing, at least in the immediate future, through his grandson Havana Grey.

As for Teofilo himself, he is reported to be in rude health ahead of his 17th covering season at Darley's Kildangan Stud, where his fee remains at €30,000. Unlike some, it hasn't fluctuated that much over the years. He started out at €40,000 and dipped to €15,000 in 'that difficult fourth season' that so frustrates stallion owners, and reached a high point of €50,000 in 2014.

Understandably, Kildangan's nominations manager Eamon Moloney is a big fan of Teofilo, having worked with him for years. He told TDN, “He's the most extraordinary horse and I just wish he got the credit he deserves.

“We make no secret of the fact that his fertility has slipped slightly through the years as he's got older, so he's been covering 80 mares per year and at that we can keep his fertility to a very high level.

“He's a very important member of Kildangan. Once Teo has started then the lads can start up the rest of the day. He's a big, substantial horse and he charges out to his paddock. He's a tough sort of a horse, but there's a gentle giant behind it.”

Moloney added, “He's in great health at 19, rising 20, and he very much has pride of place here.”

The post ‘He Has Pride of Place Here’: All Hail Teofilo, the Cups King appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Bred by Frank Dunne, the bay was an €83,000 Tattersalls Ireland September Sale grad when picked up by his first trainer Jim Bolger. He raced in the colours of Bolger's wife and John Corcoran through his first nine starts at two and three which resulted in a pair of Group 3 victories and placings in both the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and the French equivalent. Purchased by Godolphin, he made his first start for the Saeed bin Suroor barn a winning one in the G3 Joel S. at Newmarket in October of 2007. Second later that year in the G1 Hong Kong Mile at Sha Tin, he resumed at four with a victory in the G1 Lockinge S. in May of 2008.

Eventually retired with a mark of 15-4-3-2 and $1,161,141 in earnings, Creachadoir stood at several French farms throughout his career. He moved to Haras de la Tricoliere this year. Utilised as a sire under both codes, he left stakes winner What About Carlo (Fr) on the Flat. His best NH horse was Footpad (Fr), who won a quartet of Grade 1 races.

He is a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and sire Youmzain (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), as well as group winner Shreyas (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}). Noted runner Pilsudski (Ire) (Polish Precedent), who took top-level races in five countries, is under the third dam.

Tin Horse (Ire) (Sakhee), who has six stakes winners over jumps, will stand at Haras de la Tricoliere for €2,500 next year.

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The bevy of racing, sports and TV stars already confirmed for the event include David and Paudie Clifford, Rachael Blackmore, Ursula Jacob, Paul McGrath, Miriam O'Callaghan, Michael Duignan, Kevin Manning, Willie McCreery, Barry Geraghty, Marty Morrissey and Joanne O'Riordan are among those set to lend a hand as selectors, commentators, side-line officials, umpires and maor uisce. For the complete rundown of competitors, click here.

Gates open at 4:30 p.m. with pre-match entertainment and refreshments before throw-in at 6pm.

Tickets costing €10 for adults and €15 for families are currently on sale at www.HurlingForCancer.ie. Tickets will also be on sale at the gate on the night and car parking at Netwatch Cullen Park will be free.

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Organised annually by leading trainer Jim Bolger and former champion jockey Davy Russell, the event allows sports fans to rub shoulders with household names from the world of horse racing, GAA, soccer and boxing along with a host of celebrities.

To date, the Hurling for Cancer Research has raised over €1.3 million providing funding for life changing research.

Claire Kilty, Acting Head of Research for the Irish Cancer Society, said: “The generous donations raised through Hurling For Cancer Research supports us to fund over 100 cancer researchers all across the country. Thanks to research advances in areas such as early detection, clinical trials and cancer survivorship, people with cancer are living for longer, and survival rates are continuing to improve, bringing us closer to a future where nobody in Ireland dies from this disease.”

To purchase your individual (€10) or family (€15) ticket online or to make a donation direct to Hurling for Cancer Research, please visit www.hurlingforcancer.ie.

All funds from the sale of tickets and donations will go directly toward funding vital cancer research.

For queries, please contact Irish Cancer Society Community Fundraiser Emma Hayden: ehayden@irishcancer.ie

The post New Home for Hurling Cancer Research Event for 2023 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Fleetfoot was placed on all three of his starts at two, bumping into some smart colts each time, including subsequent G1 National S. hero Al Riffa (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}). 

But the Shadwell-bred colt made no mistake on his seasonal return, battling best to land the 1m maiden as a 7-4 favourite despite racing on unsuitable ground. 

That performance marked Fleetfoot down as a bright prospect, according to his part-owner Tylicki, who recalled how he has seen the potential in the horse ever since he was catalogued as part of the Shadwell dispersal at Goffs last year. 

Tylicki said, “I took notice of this horse once the catalogue was published for the Goffs February Sale last year. Two weeks beforehand, we had the February Sale at Tattersalls, where I saw two of his siblings. One of those was Mashaaer (Ire) (Muhaarar {GB}), who placed in the G1 Pretty Polly S. for Henry Spiller, and the other was a weanling by Blue Point (Ire).

“When I saw this fella in the flesh I was very impressed by him and, to cut a long story short, went off to Goffs to try and buy him. Unfortunately, I was completely blown out of the water but was ever so delighted to see that Mr Bolger bought him because the rest is history.” 

Fleetfoot was knocked down to Boherguy Stud, which is managed by Bolger's granddaughter Clare Manning, for €135,000. Having started his career at Bolger's Coolcullen Stables, Tylicki had forged a long and fruitful relationship with the legendary trainer, something the former jockey turned bloodstock agent says is enhancing his experience with Fleetfoot. 

He explained, “Life can be so good at times and so bad as well, but I obviously started with Mr Bolger and spent over three-and-a-half years there. It was a very tough school but it made a man out of me and got me on the right road in life. I knew exactly what I wanted in racing and in life when I left Mr Bolger's. We all know what happened to me in my career but I am now very focussed on the bloodstock side of things and, when I saw this horse, I absolutely fell in love with him, and so did Mr Bolger. It's such a pleasure to be a small part of the team that looked after me so well once upon a time and got me on the right road in life. I don't know how to describe my feelings, I am just overwhelmed with emotions and it's a great feeling. I won't forget this day in a hurry, that's for sure.”

Tylicki added, “Fleetfoot probably wasn't in love with the ground but he went on it and that is the main thing because he showed his versatility on the ground as well as the trip because there is no doubt that he will stay further in time. He just has that willing attitude that most of those good Teofilos have. Look, if there's one man to train a Teofilo, Mr Bolger is the man.”

Fleetfoot will now be aimed towards the Classics but just where the strapping colt lines out next is a different conversation for a different day according to Tylicki.

“He is entered in the Irish Guineas and Irish Derby and I think he is in the French 2,000 Guineas as well but, at this moment in time, all I am going to do is enjoy this evening! I am not sure where we will go but I am looking forward to the discussions once we know he came out of the race okay. The world is his oyster.”

The post Tylicki Dreaming Of Classic Glory For Fleetfoot Alongside Mentor Bolger appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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   Cleary has already recorded big-race success for his long-standing boss, when guiding Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas glory in 2021, and has opened up about what it means to be provided with an opportunity to play a bigger role at Coolcullen Stables this season.

   As well as being a key cog in Coolcullen's wheel, Cleary is also a hugely-respected breeze-up rider, and has a long and successful association with Eddie O'Leary's Lynn Lodge Stud outfit.

   In this week's Starfield Stud-sponsored Q&A, Cleary speaks about that famous day with Mac Swiney, his passion for young horses, including showjumpers, and how excited he is about the new season.

Brian Sheerin: Jim Bolger firmed up riding plans for the stable this week and confirmed that he was looking to yourself and Luke McAteer to fill the void left by Kevin Manning. That must have provided you with a boost.

Rory Cleary: It's great to hear it. That's the reason why I am still there working for Jim Bolger because, any time there has been a spare ride going, he never looked outside the yard. It's going to be an exciting start to the year and hopefully it all goes well and we can keep it that way.

What did it mean to ride a Classic winner aboard Mac Swiney in the Irish Guineas?

To ride a Classic winner, it means the world to any jockey, and it was amazing to do it. Because of Covid, the public weren't there but the jockeys made it really special for me as they came out in force and welcomed me back into the winner's enclosure. We did fancy Mac Swiney, especially when the rain came. It's not like he was a no-hoper. You know that when a man like Jim Bolger runs one in a big race, you are not there to make up the numbers, so it was amazing when it happened. It's something I'll never forget.

You are widely regarded as one of the busiest jockeys in the weighroom. Give us an idea of what a normal day looks like for you?

I ride out for Jim Bolger every morning and normally ride work for whoever I can on the Curragh in the afternoons. I was in Tally-Ho today to ride breeze-up horses for Lynn Lodge Stud and then came back to my own place in Kildare where I rode a few of my own horses.

That's a lot of miles.

It's a good few alright. Bolger's would be about a 50-minute drive every morning. I'd normally ride five or six lots in there and, on a work morning, I could ride a few more on top of that.

How much of an influence has Jim had on your career and what has it been like to be associated with the yard for over a decade now.

I'm with Jim for 12 years now and it's been unbelievable. Just the routine of the place, the facilities that he has, it makes it a great place to work. Not only has it been a great place to work, but it has been a great place to learn. I have been very lucky to be riding work with Kevin Manning and Gordon Power. There are plenty of top-class lads down there from the ground up. There are men there who would be able to train in their own right but they are happy working for Jim. For me, it's been a great place to be.

Mac Swiney, with Cleary in the saddle, winning the Irish 2000 Guineas | Racingfotos.com

You rode just one winner for Jim last season but it turned out to be in the G3 Eyrefield S. I suppose that shows that, even as the number two rider, top-class spares were going to fall your way, like we saw when you won the Irish 2000 Guineas aboard Mac Swiney.

Last year was a bit of a frustrating one for me to be honest. With the weights rising from 8st 4lbs to 8st 7lbs because of Covid, it took away those light weights from the big handicaps, which have been my bread and butter down through the years. Myself, Niall McCullagh and Wayne Lordan and a few others, we'd always have done light pretty easy, and in those big premier handicaps, you were bound to come in for some lovely spares. That didn't really happen last year with the weights going up. Take Verhoyen (GB) (Piccolo {GB}) for example, I won a Scurry H. on him because Billy Lee, his regular rider, couldn't do the weight. That was a nice spare to get. With the weights rising, it's gone very competitive and it's hard to get a ride in those races now.

You mentioned you do plenty of work with the breezers. Obviously they will be cranking up a notch in their work around this time of year. Are there any younger sires who have caught your attention at this early stage in the year?

The breeze-up side of things has gone very competitive and a lot of the consignors have really upped their game in recent years. They have bought the big pedigree horses by top sires so there's a lot of quality there. Yes, there's a few first-season sires on the scene and it's always interesting to see them coming along. I have ridden a Blue Point (Ire) for Lynn Lodge Stud and he's a nice horse, he's definitely quick, but I wouldn't be able to say I like the progeny of this sire or that sire until I've sat on a few of them. I haven't sat on a whole pile of horses by first-season sires but, on the Blue Point I rode, I liked him.

Do you ride for many other breeze-up yards?

I ride mainly for Eddie O'Leary. He actually got me started with the breezers and I'm doing it a long time for him now. I also ride a good bit for Katie Walsh at Greenhills Farm and she has had a lot of success in recent years.

Have you ridden many of the horses bound for Goffs Dubai Breeze Up Sale, the first one of the year?

I have and they are all big, good-looking dirt-bred horses who won't come into their own until they are 3-year-olds. They are horses who take a bit of time. Eddie has two going out there. I've sat on the two of them and they're impressive.

Would you breeze a few yourself?

I've two this year and hopefully it goes okay. One of them is showing plenty, so hopefully we get well-paid for her. She's by Raven's Pass and she goes really nicely. Hopefully she'll either go to the Tattersalls Guineas Sale or else the Goresbridge Sale at Fairyhouse. We've a nice filly by Highland Reel (Ire), but she'll take a bit more time. Hopefully she'll go to Fairyhouse.

It's not only the breezers that you trade. I know the showjumpers are close to your heart and you've had quite a bit of luck with them.

Myself and my wife, we have a small yard in Kildare and we breed sport horses. We produce them on for all sorts of phases; hunters, eventers and showjumpers. Some of them might just end up being leisure horses. We do a lot of breaking and pre-training as well.

Rory Cleary is all smiles after winning the Irish 2000 Guineas aboard Mac Swiney for Jim Bolger | Racingfotos.com

What would the market be like for a good showjumper?

We don't have the high-end horses but we're hoping to get into that bracket. In time, we'd like to get into the bigger and better horses but, at the moment, we're doing it on a small scale. Thankfully it's worked out well and we've traded horses to America, England, Holland, Germany and lots of other places so it's going well. Not only that, the people who have bought off us have come back and bought off us again.

And who would you pre-train for?

We mainly break horses in. I broke a lot of yearlings this year that will end up going breezing. I broke a lot of Cormac Farrell's horses and he plans on breezing a lot of those. They are all going well and he has a nice filly by Frosted going to Dubai. He has a nice bunch over both codes and is a busy man. He's constantly on the road and is doing very well for himself.

I spoke to your father Tom about a half an hour after you won the Guineas on Mac Swiney. Obviously, he couldn't be there because of Covid but you could hear what the win meant to him and the Cleary family as a whole.

It was a very proud moment for us all and I know they got a great kick out of it. You know, if it wasn't for the input of my parents, with Dad training the few horses and Mam starting us off on the ponies, who's to say we'd have had the passion for it. It's down to them that we developed the passion. For all the hard work they put in–they were never off the road bringing us showjumping, hunting or pony racing, and kept good horses under us–it meant a lot.

Have you ever thought about life beyond the saddle? Would you ever think of training like your father?

We'll pre-train anyway but, to be honest, I really enjoy the breeze-up side of things and the sport horses as well. My wife is a huge help to me in the yard and does all of the mucking out and, when I have them broken and riding, she rides them out with me as well. It's something we really enjoy doing together. We've the kids coming along and they've the ponies as well. We don't know what way we could but it will be something involved with horses, that's for sure.

The post Rory Cleary: Getting To Know One Of Jim Bolger’s Main Jockeys appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Cleary has already tasted major success for his long-standing boss when partnering MacSwiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) to lead home a Bolger-trained one-two in the 2021 Irish 2,000 Guineas, outpointing Manning aboard the better-fancied Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}).

It was at Galway last October when Derby-winning jockey Manning, 55, called time on his storied career after riding Bolger's Vocal Studies (Ire) (Vocalised) to victory. 

His Derby win came in 2008 at Epsom aboard New Approach (Ire) and, all told, Manning was successful in eight British and Irish Classics.

Bolger failed to be drawn on a succession plan for his stable jockey of nearly 30 years back in October, however, with the Flat season a month away, hinted that Cleary and McAteer would share the rides going forward. 

When asked if he had made plans to appoint a stable jockey, the 81-year-old simply said on Tuesday, “I have been very well served by Rory Cleary and Luke McAteer in the past and I am sure that will remain the case into the future.”

He added, “Luke still has three pounds left on his claim and we will make full use of that.”

Luke McAteer | Racingfotos.com

Cleary is widely-regarded as one of the hardest-working riders in the weighroom and enjoyed another productive season last year when landing the G3 Eyrefield S. for Bolger at Leopardstown on Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire})

He also enjoyed notable success for Sheila Lavery at that track on Irish Champions Weekend last year when guiding Moracana (Ire) (Elzaam {Aus}) to victory in the “Petingo” Handicap.

McAteer is yet another quality apprentice to come through Bolger's famous production line. The Donegal native rode his first winner for the trainer in 2017 and has recorded tallies in the 20s for the past three consecutive seasons. 

Like Cleary, McAteer also enjoyed Group 3 success in the Eyrefield S. for Bolger, with that win coming in 2020 on Flying Visit (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai {Aus}). 

While Bolger explained that “appearances will be scarce” in terms of going racing this season, he revealed that his Coolcullen operation still hums to the tune of about 100 horses and that he has already started to make plans for the best of them.

He said, “I'll have 100 horses this season. About 60 of those would be two-year-olds. Fleetfoot (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) will run in the 2,000 Guineas Trial over a mile at Leopardstown.

“I have a couple for the fillies' trials as well. Comhra (Ire) (Vocalised), who was beaten a length by the Breeders' Cup winner [Meditate (Ire) (No Nay Never)] is one and Clever And Cool (Ire) (Vocalised) is the other. She was bred by my late brother Patrick. He died a year ago and I miss him as he was a big help on the breeding side of things. There is improvement in those fillies this year.”

Asked about his breeding plans for the year, Bolger added, “We don't make plans until we see the foal. It's only then that we decide. But I will be using Dawn Approach big time. I'm still a believer. Also, I've always used New Approach, so I'll continue to use him. I'll send a few to him as well. We did some business last year with the O'Callaghans at Tally-Ho Stud. We sent a good few mares to Mehmas (Ire) and will send him more again.”

The post Stable Jockey News: Bolger Staying Loyal To Cleary And McAteer This Season appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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#

This G1 daughter of Saxon Warrior @coolmorestud was consigned by @BoherguyStud and has been bought by @BBAIreland for 1,000,000gns. pic.twitter.com/9oPI5qAqGS

— TDN (@theTDN) November 29, 2022

The post Gan Teorainn First To Seven Figures at Tattersalls appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks. 

The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her ability given she is a half-sister to eight winners, three of which are black-type performers, including Puncher Clynch (Ire) (Azamour {Ire}), who Bolger trained to win the G3 Ballysax S. at Leopardstown in 2010.

Manning said, “She is the highest profile horse I have ever had to sell. I've sold plenty of relations to good horses but this is a two-year-old who is already Group 1-placed and has a Classic campaign ahead of her so she's certainly the most exciting horse I've ever had the chance to sell. It's very exciting.

“Gan Teorainn is by a young and exciting sire who is going places. She has won over a mile and is out of a Rainbow Quest mare [Dance Troupe (GB)] who's had 11 foals, 10 runners and eight winners. There are plenty of black-type horses under the first dam and, as a breeding prospect on a catalogue page, it's all there.”

Gan Teorainn translates from Irish to unlimited or infinite, and Manning says that the filly her father Kevin partnered to all bar one of her seven starts in the final season of a spellbinding career that lasted over 40 years will appeal to just about everyone at Tattersalls.

Manning explained, “She has shown it on the track and, given she has a 1000 Guineas and Oaks entry for next year, I think that she will be pretty popular. There is real international appeal to Gan Teorainn and she really could go anywhere.

“There are lots of high-class mares in the sale and you can't pick out one filly or mare and say, 'this is the best in the session,' as there are several there. Gan Teorainn is the highest-rated two-year-old in the sale. Some of them will be sold as broodmare prospects while others will have racing careers ahead of them so I suppose our filly is a little unique in the sense that she is sold with a Classic campaign ahead of her as well as having that broodmare career to look forward to further down the line.”

Should Gan Teorainn play a prominent role in the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls, it would crown another excellent year for the burgeoning Boherguy Stud after a sales-topping Autumn Yearling Sale at Goffs with a colt by Dawn Approach (Ire) and a number of other productive sales either side of the Irish Sea. 

Manning said, “It's been another good year. It would be absolutely amazing if we could end it on a positive note. I think she will be well-received so I can't see why we wouldn't.

“It's very hard to top the Orby or even a Book 2 here at Tattersalls. Those sales are just so strong. To top any sale is great and we got a lot of pleasure out of the Autumn Yearling Sale. To do it with a Dawn Approach, who isn't the most commercial sire but gets Group 1 winners, was sweeter because he's down at Granddad's place in Redmondstown. 

“We'd a good mares' sale, a great February Sale, a good Fairyhouse–we didn't go in there and make headlines but horses sold above their asking price and a lot of our clients were very happy. Placing horses in the right sale is one of the most important things in this game. You can have a lovely horse but, if it's in the wrong sale, you can get overlooked.” 

She added, “Granddad and Dad have been very supportive of me. Neither of them pushed me to work with horses or to go into this industry. If anything, they probably tried to steer me in a different direction. But they have been great. The first year, I wanted to get horses and showcase how I could prep them for a sale and Granddad let me do that with some of his better horses. It has helped me get clients in the door and to advertise how we do things at Boherguy. Without that, I wouldn't be where I am now; I'd still be trying to make a name for myself whereas now, Boherguy is beginning to get recognised at the sales in Britain and Ireland.”

It was just last month when Kevin Manning announced his retirement at the age of 55. He rode his first winner back in 1983 and had been stable jockey for Bolger since 1993. Together, Manning and Bolger won eight Classics in Britain and Ireland, with Clare pointing to the particular significance surrounding the first with Margarula (Ire) (Doyoun {GB}) in the Irish Oaks back in 2002.

She said, “A lot of people ask me about how hard Dad worked down through the years and how he looked after his weight. It's a hard question for me to answer because Dad was a jockey before I was even born so I have never known it to be any different. For me, the way he eats, sweats and the work he does, it's just normal to me. He never stops. He's mad into his shooting and has his gun dogs. He's two young pups he's bringing on and he also gives me a hand in the yard. Shooting season goes on for another three months and he's happy to tip away at that for now.” 

Manning added, “But the one day that really sticks out for me was Margarula winning the Irish Oaks in 2002. She was 33-1 on the day and, just as we were about to sit down and watch the race, I said to Granddad that I was going to run down to put a bet on her. He told me not to do it so, when she crossed the line in front, I turned around and looked at him without saying anything. To be fair to him, he handed me 50 quid to make up for it! 

“It was great because Granny owned the mare and she was Dad's first Classic winner. No sooner had the presentation finished, Grandad and I hopped into the car and headed off down to Portlaoise to see Wexford lose to Clare in the quarter final of the All-Ireland hurling championship. I think I was eight at the time so it's a great memory to have. 

“Trading Leather (Ire) was another great day. Grandad promised Granny that he'd train a Derby winner for her one day so for Trading Leather to carry her colours in the Irish Derby meant a lot. Grandad bred, trained and owned him and Dad rode it. Not only that, but we had a lot of family there on the day and for it to be at the Curragh, it was absolutely brilliant. Poetic Flare (Ire) winning the St James's Palace S. was the one that I probably enjoyed the most, though. He had won the 2000 Guineas and confirmed himself a top-class colt at Ascot that day.”

The spotlight turns to Clare at the Sceptre Sessions at Tattersalls this week. Should Gan Teorainn capture the imagination of buyers, it would represent another day to remember for the family. 

The post Clare Manning: ‘Gan Teorainn The Most Exciting Horse I’ve Had To Sell’ appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

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