THE relentless improver Qatari Hunter headed a stellar evening for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning as he bagged the €100,000 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Nasrullah Handicap to crown a stunning four-timer for the Coolcullen duo.
Bolger captured the first four races and it was appropriate that his final victory should come in race he once farmed when it was run under the guise of the Golden Pages Handicap. Qatari Hunter was maintaining a remarkable level of progression, which began when he won a Curagh handicap off a mark of 74 just over a month ago.
Two more victories followed for the Mubarak Al Naemi-owned colt and he found himself some 22lbs higher in the weights. As he looked to defend his unbeaten record in handicaps, Qatari Hunter was sent off the 2/1 favourite and he looked on from second last for much of the race.
Even with well over a furlong to run, Manning’s mount still had all bar one rival to pass, but he began his challenge in earnest, launching a sustained effort on the outside that saw him collar Tennessee Widcat, and he won a shade more snugly than the winning verdict of a head would suggest. Castle Guest was two lengths back in third.
“After his second win he was looking like an improver. My concern tonight was that he missed a few days after his last win at the Curragh,” said Bolger. “Hopefully there’s another one of these in him. I think he will get a mile and a half and his big target is going to be a race in Qatar (owner’s homeland) around Christmas time.”
The four-timer began with the newcomer Radio Silence, who looked a colt of real substance in claiming the two-year-old seven-furlong winners’ race. The strongly supported 9/10 favourite showed signs of inexperience, but when he needed to assert in the last furlong his response was a telling one. He readily brushed aside the previous week’s Fairyhouse winner, Brooklyn’s Rose, before a smooth two-length triumph over Pipes Of Peace.
Radio Silence carries the colours of the American outfit and LNJ Foxwoods. Not only is he a son of the outstanding War Front, but he also posted the joint fastest time at a breeze-up sale in America in March, where he fetched $675,000. Furthermore, his dam, Maryfield, was a Grade 1 winner and a champion sprinter in America.
“He’s the first War Front I’ve had and he has potential. I’d say he will either go for the Anglesey Stakes next or come back here for the Tyros Stakes,” reported the trainer.
Half an hour later Bolger struck with the offspring of another of the world’s elite sires as Cirin Toinne, a Galileo half-sister to the Group 1-placed Glor Na Mara, picked up the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden over 10 furlongs. The Jackie Bolger-owned 12/1 chance helped to force the pace and she shook off the attentions of Etched over the course of the last furlong to win by a length and three-quarters.
“I had two nominations that year and she’s my last Galileo,” reflected Bolger. “She was a very late foal so she needed some time, we didn’t really train her last year and she was slow to learn. We’ll look at blacktype for her now.”
The four-timer was completed by Brontide, who belied his position as the 16/1 outsider of the field in the 10-furlong three-year-old handicap. This son of Vocalised began his career with a series of runner-up finishes in maidens, but came here off a couple of heavy defeats.
The Jackie Bolger-owned runner produced a thoroughly game effort from the front and rallied well when headed by Power Struggle in the last furlong. Manning got him back up to force a bobbing finish, which went his way by a nose.
“He’s a great work horse. I’ll have to think twice about sending him to Navan tomorrow night for the claimer,” declared the trainer.
The flow of Bolger winners came to a halt in the mile handicap where Aared (11/2) produced a smart effort to defy top weight, in addition to the potentially mortal blow of a wide draw. The Kevin Prendergast-trained four-year-old came here off an honourable second to Qatari Hunter at Gowran Park and duly franked that form.
The strong-travelling son of Shamardal didn’t need to exert himself too much to pick off Settle For Red in the last furlong and he ran out a cosy length and three-quarters winner under Chris Hayes.
“I wanted to come with one swoop. They went a nice even pace, it was a true run race and the best horse won,” stated Hayes of the Hamdan Al Maktoum-owned winner. “He plays an important role in the yard. He canters around with Awtaad and they are the best of pals.”
Botany Bay, carrying the colours of the late Jacqueline O’Brien, claimed the one-mile, five-furlong handicap. The capable stayer had run a number of solid races in defeat this season and took advantage of a good opportunity under Declan McDonogh. The 3/1 joint-favourite made his way to the front early in the straight before staying on resolutely to defeat the Group 2-placed Kalann by a length and a half.
“He deserved that. He’s been running well and this was the weakest race that he came across,” declared Charles O’Brien. “He might have a week or two off. A cut in the ground is okay for him but he doesn’t want deep ground.”
Galway is firmly on the agenda for Grand Partner (9/4) following his victory under Finny Maguire in the amateur riders’ maiden. Fresh from a good second to Winter Lion over hurdles at Bellewstown last Saturday, the eight-year-old picked up nicely to take control of this race early in the last furlong. He crossed the line two and a quarter lengths clear of Skilled.
“He’ll have a few entries in Galway and maybe that will get him into the amateur riders’ handicap.
“He came out of Bellewstown so well I had to run him and he likes good ground,” remarked Tom Mullins whose wife, Helen, owns the gelding.
Acting Stewards
T. Hunt, J. Martin-Smith, C.J. O’Reilly, J. Weld, P.D. Matthews
Horse To Follow
SKILLED (G. Elliott): For the second year in succession this dual hurdles winner had to settle for the runner-up spot in the amateur riders’ maiden. There are more races to be won with him.