JIM Bolger features strongly this week when it comes to group-winning two-year-olds. He owns, with his wife Jackie, trains and bred the Group 2 Galileo Irish EBF Futurity Stakes winner Mac Swiney, and he also bred the unbeaten Group 3 Acomb Stakes winner Gear Up.

John Magnier has often, and publicly, praised Jim Bolger’s foresight when the trainer was the first great outside supporter of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) as a stallion. The sires Group 1 winners feature many Bolger stalwarts among their number, and now the Coolcullen master continues to enjoy success with Galileo’s sons.