Venice is very Focussed on reappearance

Focus On Venice got his career back on track after a ten month lay-off when taking the Mallow Town Summer BBQ Evening July 11th Handicap.

Jim Bolger’s charge scored on his debut at Leopardstown last year and was thought good enough to take his chance in the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on Irish Derby day only to lose his action and trail home last of the five runners behind Sudirman.

The Intense Focus colt was easy to back here at 10/1 on his reappearance but led over a furlong out and kept on well for Kevin Manning to record a length and a quarter success.

The well-backed 7/4 favourite Gold Peregrine took a long time to get into top gear but came home strongly to take second place close home, with Fly To The Moon in third.

Bolger’s travelling head lad Ger Flynn said, “He was struggling to go early on and took a while to get into a rhythm but when he did Kevin was really happy with him.

“He beat a nice horse of Aidan’s in Michaelmas first time out and, although he disappointed after in a Group 2 at the Curragh, he showed us what he can do at home today.”

(TW & AM)