Poetic Flare

It seems harsh, when the British and Irish Classics have so far have been split two apiece between Jim Bolger and Aidan O'Brien, to suggest that this season is all about Bolger. But, let's face it, it is.  Plenty has been written about Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) and the fact that both sides of their families are very much ingrained in the Bolger breeding and training academy. What is equally admirable, especially in the case of Mac Swiney, is the fact...

   Jim Bolger has some unfinished business to take care of on Sunday, having gone agonisingly close to an unprecedented English-French-Irish Guineas treble in 2007 with Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr. Greeley). Denied by a head by Darjina (Fr) (Zamindar) in the second leg at ParisLongchamp, the "living legend" went on to add the Irish equivalent and it is a unique Guineas treble that is on the mind of the Coolcullen maestro once again in 2021. With an extra seven days than his brilliant filly had between the G1 2000 Guineas...

At Wednesday's forfeit stage for the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains and G1 Poule d'Essai des Pouliches, both set for Sunday at ParisLongchamp, the G1 2000 Guineas and G1 1000 Guineas winners Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) and Mother Earth (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) both remained among the entries for their respective divisions. Also among the 13 colts still signed on for the Poulains are G1 Dewhurst S. winner St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}); G1 Prix Jean Luc Lagardere victor Sealiway (Fr) (Galiway {GB}); G1 Criterium International runner-up Normandy Bridge...

Master horseman Jim Bolger may have been ensconced in Ireland during this weekend's Guineas Festival, but his influence was felt far and wide across the Rowley Mile. The fact that Bolger bred, trained and raced the 2000 Guineas winner Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire})-in addition to the small feat of breeding his sire and first two dams and training his grandsire and third dam-has been well documented in the following days. But Bolger's fingerprints were likewise on the G1 1000 Guineas the next day: he had trained the winner...

To breed four 2-year-old stakes winners within a week would be a landmark accomplishment for anyone. For Jim Bolger, however, it merely scratches the surface of what he accomplished the past two Saturdays as a breeder, owner and trainer. Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) got things going on Oct. 17 at Leopardstown with a win in the G3 Killavullan S. Bolger bred not only Poetic Flare but his first two dams and his sire, and raced them all in the white and purple silks of his wife Jackie Bolger,...