Trading Leather & Kevin Manning lead their rivals home in the Derby© Photo Healy Racing
Aidan O’Brien’s seven year domination of the Irish Derby was fittingly ended by his former boss, as Jim Bolger recorded his first win in the race since St Jovite in 1992, Trading Leather the hero twenty-one years on, providing his rider Kevin Manning with his first triumph in the Irish Flat season highlight.
The son of Teofilo was sent to post a 6/1 shot having won the Listed Silver Stakes over the course on his last outing earlier this month.
Before that he finished third to Magician in the Irish 1000 Guineas and was second to Libertarian in the Dante Stakes at York.
Settled in third, he took closer order into the straight and he came with his challenge two furlongs from home.
He was ridden to lead a furlong and a half out and he kept on well close home to score by a length and three parts. Galileo Rock who was third in the Epsom equivalent, ran a fine race to take second under Wayne Lordan for David Wachman at 9/1 while Festive Cheer ran on well to take third, a further length and three parts back under Seamie Heffernan for Aidan O’Brien at 33/1.
Epsom Derby hero Ruler Of The World was sent off the 4/5 favourite and he was waited with towards the rear by Joseph O’Brien.
Turning for home it was apparent that he was struggling and he eventually finished a well beaten fifth.
Libertarian, who was second at Epsom, went to post the 7/2 second favourite, however he was one of the first to come off the bridle and he eventually finished a very disappointing eighth under William Buick. Sugar Boy (9/1) was also very disappointing. He lost his place from before the straight and he finished thirteen lengths adrift of the field in last place.
A thrilled Kevin Manning said afterwards: "He travelled very well, picked up and lengthened. He galloped right to the line.
"I was a bit afraid that I had hit the front too soon but he gallops and has pace.
"It means an awful lot to me. I thought it was a race that was going to get away.
"New Approach was pulled out twenty-four hours before it with an injury and Teofilo also missed it."
Jim Bolger said: "Everything went to according to plan. We were hoping we’d get a nice pace and to just drop in behind them.
"He settled very well and we always knew that he would get the trip.
"It is probably a career topping day and it doesn’t really get any better than this.
"I was very pleased with his run in the Dante as we didn’t have a good run with him up to that.
"We got a bit side-tracked with the Guineas here and if nothing else we made it a good pace.
"He would have went to Epsom had Dawn Approach not been there. He needs a good strong gallop and we weren’t sure about the stamina of Dawn Approach so it didn’t make sense running the two of them in it.
"We will have to think about where we will go with him next but we need to be careful about the going as he likes nice underfoot conditions.
"The dam is by Sinndar and personally I never had doubts about his stamina although others did."
Bolger's wife, and winning owner, Jackie said: "It is wonderful because it's the first time we actually owned the winner.
"To own it, train it, have Kevin (son-in-law) riding and to have our grandchildren here, it’s just wonderful.
"Jim always said that he would train me a Derby winner in my own colours and now he has!"
"We bred Soldier Of Fortune (won the Irish Derby in 2007) and not only did we breed this horse, we bred his dam and sire and with Kevin riding him as well it makes it that extra bit special."
The attendance at this year Derby was 23,407, up 900 on last year.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
