TATTERSALLS IRISH 1000

GUINEAS (GROUP 1)

THE boldest of decisions yielded the most coveted of prizes as Pleascach took the drop back from 10 furlongs to a mile in her stride to edge out Found in the Tattersalls Irish 1000 Guineas.

Only 11 days previously at Naas, Pleascach annihilated her rivals in the Blue Wind Stakes to announce herself as one of the foremost contenders for top honours in the middle distance fillies division.

Yet her trainer opted to come back to a mile and, showing commendable versatility, she vindicated the decision to give Bolger his second Irish 1000 Guineas triumph.

Furthermore the unusually hazy nature of the Derby division means that Pleascach has already done more than enough to be considered a leading player for next month’s Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby which is her target.

A well-backed 11/2 chance, the Jackie Bolger-owned daughter of Teofilo took up a forward position for Kevin Manning as stablemates Maincin an Steip Amach led the 18 runners from early on.

The race itself went smoothly for Pleascach who was sent for home a quarter of a mile out. At this point the heavily-backed Found switched out into the clear to make her bid and inside the last furlong she started to draw alongside the leader.

Pleascach still had more to give though and just as Found seemed poised to find a way past Manning’s mount pulled out more and was going away at the line where she had half a length to spare.

The winner did edge out to her left inside the distance and a stewards’ enquiry was called to determine whether the result was effected but the outcome was never in doubt.

Willie McCreery’s Devonshire fully vindicated the decision to supplement her with a superb third-place finish. Jack Naylor finished out her race in fine style to take fourth while Bocca Baciata secured fifth.

“She has a nice bit of toe but she is not a miler. The race worked out well for her and there was a strong enough pace. My worry beforehand was whether a 66 -rated filly (Maincin) would be able to do that,” said Bolger.

“This filly is a relentless galloper with a turn of foot and now she’s won this the Ribblesdale is out so she will come back here for the Irish Derby and then Irish Oaks.”

A delighted Kevin Manning reflected: “She’s not short of pace so I wasn’t worried about coming back to a mile with her. She’s very versatile and I’d have absolutely no doubts about her staying a mile and a half. On her comeback at Navan she ran a very nice race and she’s improved a good bit since then.”

Although beaten Found ran a fine race and showed that she had progressed well from her second in the Athasi Stakes and Aidan O’Brien did indicate that a step up in distance was among the options that would be considered for her.

Of the beaten horses Kevin Prendergast reported that the sixth-placed Tamadhor would line up next in the Pretty Polly Stakes.