Bolger ponders Guineas options

Jim Bolger's breeding back catalogue continues to produce the goods as homebred Poetic Flare was the impressive winner of the Ballylinch Stud 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes at Leopardstown today, in the process booking a 2,000 Guineas ticket.

Successful in the Killavullen Stakes at today's venue in October, Poetic Flare and jockey Kevin Manning scored a ready length and a half win over Ace Aussie Paddy Power bookmakers later cut Poetic Flare to 16/1, from 25s, for next month's English 2,000 Guineas, a race Bolger has won once previously with Dawn Approach.

Poetic Flare is the fourth generation of Bolger homebreds, whose female line began with great-grandam Saviour, a Mallow maiden winner for the trainer in 1989.

Bolger is also responsible for Poetic Flare's sire line through Classic winners Dawn Approach and New Approach while also training New Appoach's mother Park Express to be top rated European three-year-old filly in 1987.

Una Manning, representing her father Jim Bolger, today stated “he’s in both Guineas along with (stablemate and Futurity Stakes winner) Mac Swiney. He haven’t decided yet whether he’ll go to Newmarket or the Curragh but the two of them won’t run in the same race.”

“I’m told he could go anywhere and the boss is very happy with them.

“He (Poetic Flare) hasn’t been away anywhere this year for a gallop so he’s absolutely delighted.

“We were confident he wouldn’t have any problems handling the ground. Last year we just had to play the cards we were dealt and he had to run on soft ground but he’s not ground dependent.”

Quotes from Alan Magee