Classic winners do not usually fit the profile of Bachelor Duke who broke his maiden status to provide English trainer James Toller and jockey Seb Sanders with their biggest career wins in the Irish 2,000 Guineas at The Curragh today. The 12/1 winner had been unsuccessful in four previous starts and had finished six lengths seventh in the English 2,000 Guineas, but succeeded in turning around form with both Azamour and Grey Swallow.
The son of Miswaki was produced under a determined drive from Sanders to head both Azamour and Grey Swallow one hundred yards from home, eventually winning by one length. A delighted
Toller later exclaimed, "we're very lucky to have a horse as good as him. Seb (Sanders) previously won the July Cup for us but this is our biggest success." He added, "the horse improved a lot since Newmarket and had been working very well although today's better ground was also a major help."
As regards future plans, Bachelor Duke may contest the St James' Palace Stakes, while both runner-up Azamour and third placed Grey Swallow are due to clash in the Prix Jean Prat in France on June 6th. Aidan O'Brien's Russian Blue justified short odds-on when winning the Marble Hill Stakes in the colours of the late Robert Sangster. According to O'Brien, "Russian Blue is a smashing horse who will now go for the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot." However he added, "he worked yesterday but pulled out a bit stiff this morning. It appears to be a thing of
nothing though."
Russian Blue's rider, Jamie Spencer, later completed a double when David Evans' The Kiddykid upstaged his previous run at Newmarket to win the Group 3 Greenlands Stakes. The winner,
rated just 5lbs inferior to 4/5 favourite and eventual runner-up
Arakan, was reported by Evans to have been "wrong" after his poor showing at Newmarket in April. Evans also added, "he may now go for the Wokingham at Royal Ascot although the owners may want to travel abroad again!"
Jim Bolger left the meeting with his customary winner when Tropical Lady fared out best in the one mile Boylesports 75 Nationwide Handicap under stable jockey Kevin Manning while Dermot Kelly's Troilus won the opening 1m4f handicap under Johnny Murtagh. Murtagh later completed a double on Soviet Song in the Group 2 Ridgewood Pearl Stakes, one of two races over one mile which recorded a faster time than the 2,000 Guineas.
Soviet Song representing James Fanshawe and the third English-trained winner of the day, was produced with a perfectly timed challenge to lead at the furlong pole to score a six furlong success over admirable mare Livadiya. Fanshawe later commented, "it's great to have Johnny (Murtagh) on our side and he is getting to know our horses well. Nothing went right for Soviet Song last season but I am very grateful to the owners for keeping her in training this season."
