Sport

Bolger attracts attention with four victories

LEOPARDSTOWN'S 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas Trials on Saturday went to the highest-rated pair, Sheraka for John Oxx and Jim…

Mon Apr 22 1996 - 01:00

LEOPARDSTOWN'S 2,000 Guineas and 1,000 Guineas Trials on Saturday went to the highest-rated pair, Sheraka for John Oxx and Jim Bolger's Deed Of Love respectively, despite both being market drifters.

Sheraka, who opened at odds-on but started at 11 to 8, proved a clever neck winner of the 1,000 Guineas Trial under John Murtagh, with owner/breeder the Aga Khan on hand to lead in the daughter of Doyoun.

"She may get 10-furlong, like her half brother Shemaran did last year, and we will probably let her take her chance in the Irish 1,000 Guineas though she would obviously need to improve to have a live chance," said Oxx, who was winning this event for the fourth time on the trot.

Deed Of Love, unproven on the soft ground, belied lack of support in the market when taking the 2,000 Guineas trial by a length for the in-form combination of trainer Bolger and jockey Kevin Manning.

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Deed Of Love home bred by Maktoum Al Maktoum, is in both the Newmarket 2,000 Guineas and Irish 2,000 Guineas and Bolger is unsure as to which of the mile classics the son of Shadeed will contest.

The fixture proved a bonanza indeed for Bolger who saddled four winners, kicking off with Azra ("she is a good filly who would prefer better ground and wants seven furlongs") in the two-year-old maiden and following up Deed Of Love's win when Identify took the Alpine Handicap in the hands of Seamus Heffernan.

Azra will now step up in class and distance for the Silver Flash Stakes over six furlongs at Leopardstown in early June.

Bolger's claimer Ted Durcan rounded off the four-timer when Mohaajir overturned the odds on Oscar Shindler in the April race. "He will now go for the listed Savel Bed Stakes and could develop into a Cup horse," said the winning trainer.

Lady Clague's Key Change, supported from 16 to 1 to 12 to 1, proved six lengths too good for the favourite and stable-companion Harghar in the Ballysax Stakes.

"Key Change loves this soft ground, stays well and had improved over the winter," trainer Oxx said. "But I am still surprised she managed to overturn the ratings to such an extent."

Sagar Pride, the east fancied of the two Irish fillies in yesterday's Italian 1,000 Guineas, ran a great race to finish a neck second to 41 to 1 local hope Beauty To Petriolo in Rome.