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Stable Jockey News: Bolger Staying Loyal To Cleary And McAteer This Season

Jim Bolger has provided the strongest indication yet that the stable jockey vacancy left by his retired son-in-law Kevin Manning at Coolcullen Stables will not be filled by an outside rider and that the legendary trainer will be staying loyal to Rory Cleary and Luke McAteer this season.

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.”

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Hong Kong Superstar Purton to Ride Artorius in Australia

Top Hong Kong-based jockey Zac Purton will return to ride in his native Australia for the first time since the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup, Australia's News Corp. reported.

The 40-year-old reinsman will pilot Group 1 winner Artorius (Aus) (Flying Artie {Aus}) in the G1 Canterbury S., the 2-year-old King's Gambit (Aus) (I Am Invincible {Aus}) in the G2 Todman S. and possibly Communist (Aus) (Russian Revolution {Aus}) in the G1 Randwick Guineas, all at Royal Randwick on Mar. 4.

“I am coming back to ride Artorius in the Canterbury Stakes and some other very good horses,” Purton told News Corp. “It works out well because I got suspended [Sunday] in Hong Kong and I start my suspension after I ride in Sydney, so maybe I can spend a bit of extra time there [in Australia.

Purton has won Group 1 races in five countries since he started riding in 2007.

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Guest Named Employee of the Year At TIE Awards

Sarah Guest, the yard manager for trainer John O'Shea, was named the Employee of the Year during the 2023 Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards sponsored by Godolphin in ceremonies held Monday evening at York Racecourse. It was the first in-person event since 2020 and was held for the first time in Yorkshire.

Guest took home a cash prize of £10,000 and an additional £10,000 to be divided among her colleagues at the John O'Shea yard.

Earlier in the evening, Guest was also presented with the Leadership Award, carrying a £5,000 prize and a similar amount for the yard, meaning she and her coworkers each ended with £15,000 following the ceremony.

“Sarah is a richly deserving winner of this prestigious award and, despite the high quality of the finalists brought forward to this evening's ceremony, she was a stand-out selection to be named the Employee of the Year,” said Nick Luck, chair of the judging panel. “There can be no doubting the importance of Sarah to the John O'Shea operation, which was demonstrated to greatest effect during 2022 when John O'Shea was unwell. Sarah is a shining example of the sort of hard work and dedication that keeps yards up and down the country running, and we as an industry can be rightly proud of her dedication to ensuring the well-being of her colleagues and the horses in her care.”

The £30,000 awared to Guest and her colleagues was part of a total of £128,500 offered by Godolphin. The ceremonies were hosted by Francesca Cumani and were organised by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with Racing Post and Racing TV.

Prime Minister Sunak Pays Tribute

In a message, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recognised the hard work and dedication of those who work in the Thoroughbred industry across Britain.

Sunak, whose Richmond Parliamentary constituency includes Middleham training centre and Catterick Racecourse, said: “I am delighted that the Thoroughbred Industry Employee Awards are taking place in Yorkshire for the first time.

“From my visits to Middleham, and Catterick Raceourse, both in my constituency, I have seen the sheer hard work, grit and dedication of all in British racing for the horses in their care.

“Tonight's finalists exemplify all that is best about British racing and breeding–an industry which does so much for communities across our country, generates over £4 billion for our economy, and showcases Britain on the global stage.

“I want to see British racing and breeding stay at the front of this global race in the years ahead.

“I wish the best of luck and congratulations to all of tonight's finalists.

“Though, if I may be a bit partisan, I do hope that Becky Smith can do the double for Middleham after Paddy Trainor's victory last year!”

TIEA Finalists (winners in bold italic type)

David Nicholson Newcomer

Amy Grieve – Rose Dobbin

Ryan Kavanagh – Amy Murphy

Stephanie Wing – George Scott Racing

Leadership

Becky Smith – Micky Hammond

Jessica O'Keefe – Venetia Williams

Sarah Guest – John O'Shea

Rider/Groom

Amy Vickers – Harry and Roger Charlton

Emma Tully – Susan Corbett-Girsonfield Stud & Racing

Rita Gillies – Lucinda Russell

Stud Staff

Andrew Rawlin – Blue Diamond Stud

Bethan Byrne – Godolphin Management Co Ltd

Davina Burrows – Deerfield Farm

Dedication

Claire Ricks – Marco Botti

David Crofts – Marcus Tregoning

Patrick McConville – Hascombe & Valiant Stud Ltd

The Community Award (In recognition of the wonderful work Rory MacDonald achieved at The British Racing School)

Gay Kelleway – For her work supporting Ukraine

Jo Foster – Community racehorse visits

Margo Walsh – The Jockey Club

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British EBF Support Tops £2 Million

Edited Press Release

For the first time in the 40-year history of the organisation, the British European Breeders' Fund will increase its contribution to prize money to £2 million.

“Britain continues to be recognised for the quality of its stallion market: we stand promising young sires and established producers of Champions,” said British EBF Chairman Simon Sweeting. “The support of all our stallion owners to the British

EBF means we can support well over 700 flat races in 2023 with £1.9million, our biggest commitment to date. With our National Hunt programmes considered too, the British EBF contribution is over £2 million, directly to racing's prize money. It is a genuine enhancement of the value of the race programme, with a particular focus on developmental races and projects that protect the diversity of the race programme and, ultimately, the Thoroughbred.”

Areas of the programme that will benefit from the extra support include juvenile developmental races, sire/dam-restricted 2-year-old races and a small series of novice and maidens for 3-year-olds.

“Some of our established high-value Novice and Maiden races at premier fixtures will benefit from extra funding. Our successful sire/dam-restricted races will receive a boost as an important cross-industry initiative to encourage the production of quality stayers in Britain. We are also supporting the BHA in special projects to strengthen developmental opportunities in the older horse programme.

“This is in addition to our long-standing commitments to our high-value fillies' and mares' handicaps, designed to retain mares in GB and give them productive targets throughout the season, and of course, our flagship British EBF £100,000 2yo Series finals founded last year.”

The British EBF 2yo Series covers over 140 qualifying races and is capped by a finale for fillies at Goodwood and one for colts and geldings at York, each worth £100,000. It aims to support the commercial end of the sales and stallion market by utilising Restricted Novice and Maiden races as qualifiers. A number of these, now supported by long standing EBF contributor Juddmonte, are to be run at £30,000, making them valuable qualifying targets on the way to the finals.

In 2022, David Mensuisier's €13,000 purchase Munch (GB) (New Bay {GB}) claimed the fillies' final at Goodwood. The race went on to produce subsequent Listed Winterkonigin Trial winner Sirona (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}). The colts' final was won by the unbeaten Eve Johnson Houghton trained Streets of Gold (Ire) (Havana Gold {Ire}), a £27,000 Tattersalls Ireland purchase whose spring target is the G1 2000 Guineas. The race also produced Legend of Xanadu (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) who went on to with the Listed Doncaster S. at the end of last season.

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