Boundless Ocean and Kevin Manning winning at Leopardstown © Photo Healy Racing
Leopardstown racecourse is the place to be this Thursday, 11th August as quality racing returns with the Group 3 Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes on Leopardstown Racecourse International Race Evening, which is supported by Irish Thoroughbred Marketing.
Boundless Ocean was an emphatic winner of the Group 3 Green Room Meld Stakes at Leopardstown four weeks ago having also won his maiden at the track in April and heads the field for the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes. Jim Bolger’s 110-rated colt will face six rivals, including the 107-rated Raadobarg for Johnny Murtagh, while the John Murphy-trained Charterhouse has progressed up the ranks and is another notable inclusion.
Boundless Ocean has recently changed hands and will run for the first time in the colours of Sheik Abdululelah Abdulaziz A Almousa.
“He’s very well and I’m very happy with him,” said Bolger. “He doesn’t dislike Leopardstown anyway which is a help and the ground will be no issue. We were happy with him in the Meld Stakes and while he is dropping back to a mile for the first time since Newmarket (the 2000 Guineas) that isn’t a worry for me.
“It’s a competitive race but I am happy with him and hope that he might be capable of winning at a higher level in time.”
Meanwhile, Murtagh has been pleased with Raadobarg’s form all season. “He likes a little bit of cut in the ground but they’ve been doing a great job in Leopardstown the last two meetings and if it’s the same as that we’ll take our chance. He’s been running well all year and should give a good account of himself again,” said Murtagh.
Ger Lyons will be double-handed in the race with Marbling and Juncture and the Luke Comer-trained Eskimo Komet completes the field.
A significant incentive for contestants is that the winner of the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes earns a free entry to the Group 2 Clipper Logistics Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown on 10th September, the first day of Longines Irish Champions Weekend.
The Bahrain Turf Club boasts the Group 3 Bahrain International Trophy as its flagship contest, inaugurated as part of the campaign to establish Bahrain as a premier horse racing destination. The relationship with Ireland is a key element in that process, as illustrated by partnerships with Irish Thoroughbred Marketing and Leopardstown Racecourse.
Ed Veale, Head of Racing at Bahrain Turf Club, said: “The Bahrain Turf Club and I are extremely proud of our association with Irish racing and the relationship this has allowed us to build with Leopardstown Racecourse. The work done in Bahrain with RACE in developing our jockey school for local riders, and the continued support received from Irish Thoroughbred Marketing have all been contributing factors to the close ties we now hold with horse racing in Ireland. The Desmond Stakes is a race with a great roll of honour, and we are delighted to be sponsors of this year’s renewal.”
One of the most interesting runners on the card will be the Joseph O’Brien-trained Point King in the Jockey Club of Turkey Vinnie Roe Stakes. Fresh from his 1,000th winner of his training career, that remarkable feat is almost already a distant memory for the determined O’Brien who will be much wiser about his two-time winner after Thursday’s assignment.
“Point King is the one for us in the Vinnie Roe,” siad the Carriganog trainer. “He’s obviously been a progressive horse this year. He won well in Leopardstown last time out and although this looks a very good race as we have become used to in Ireland, we’re hoping he can run a good race again,”
O’Brien said this morning. He’ll enjoy the top of the ground and that will be to his benefit too, as will the fact that he won at Leopardstown last time so he handles the track. We’re stepping up another furlong with him but it is the calibre of the opposition that will be his biggest test but I am hoping he will run well.”
Among the five runners in opposition to the upwardly-mobile Point King is the former Derby hopeful Bluegrass trained by Joseph’s father, Aidan. The champion trainer has won three of the last four renewals and will also face a challenge from youngest son Donnacha who saddles Simply Glorious
The Johnny Murtagh-trained Shajak and Jim Bolger’s Manu Et Corde complete the six runner field.
“Manu Et Corde is very well,” said Bolger. “I know I’m going a bit soon but hopefully that won’t matter. He ran well over the trip in a Listed race in Down Royal when third. He gets the trip well.”
On Shajak, Murtagh said: “He’s got a bit to find on ratings but he’s progressive and still improving I think so he’s entitled to take his chance.”
Thursday’s card will also stage the Sadettin Atig Memorial Handicap. Sadettin Atig was born in Istanbul and was a former member of the Jockey Club of Turkey where he served as both General Secretary and an Executive Board Member prior to his untimely passing in 2022.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained Only will bid to make it third time lucky in the Horseraces Single Member S.A. Of Greece Maiden over a mile and the fascinating seven-race card begins at 5.20pm.
