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 Sunday, July 16, 2006

  CURRAGH, 3.05, Mdn, 19,820, 2yo, c/g, 7fT, 1:26.39, gd/fm

  Teofilo (Ire), C, 2, by Galileo (Ire)

1st Dam: Speirbhean (Ire) (SW-Ire), by Danehill

2nd Dam: Saviour, by Majestic Light

3rd Dam: Victoria Queen, by Victoria Park

This maiden has produced some decent performers in recent times and was won 12 months ago by the smart stakes performer Heliostatic (Ire). Hailing from the same barn this time was Teofilo, but the presence of the Ballydoyle newcomer Red Rock Canyon (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) overshadowed all else and he was sent off the 4-5 favorite. Breaking well from his wide draw, Teofilo soon disputed the early lead out wide before gaining an edge passing the eighth peg. Joined by Red Rock Canyon soon after, the 8-1 chance rallied to regain the advantage and assert for a neck score. "He’s always been a nice type at home and is a big, strong and tough horse," jockey Kevin Manning said. "Even though I only won a neck, when Aidan [O’Brien]’s horse came to me, I was always confident I was going to come out on top and when I gave him one smack he responded immediately. He’s probably more of a three-year-old than a two-year-old and there is plenty of improvement in him. When he steps up in trip we’ll see better things from him." Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, Eu13,020.

O: Mrs J S Bolger | B: Jim Bolger | T: Jim Bolger