Jim Bolger started the Tralee festival in double quick time when Timeless Isle and Rizzoli triumphed for the Coolcullen trainer yesterday. Timeless Isle was a particularly pleasing success in the Ballygarry House Maiden as she is the first winner from the first Irish crop of the ex-Bolger trained Erins Isle, who now stands at Bolger's Redmondstown Stud.
Erins Isle won the Gallinule Stakes for Bolger in 1981 before becoming a star in America, winning five Grade 1 races when trained by Charlie Whittingham. Although he subsequently sired an Eclipse Award winner in Laugh And Be Merry, Erins Isle failed to make a significant impact as a stallion in America and returned to Ireland almost four years ago.
Timeless Isle, winning a maiden that Bolger's Caiseal Ros won last season, was bred by Bolger's fellow trainer Kevin Prendergast, who was given an Erins Isle nomination by Bolger.
Rizzoli sprinted to an eightlength victory in the Derrinstown Apprentice Handicap under Paul Hourigan and Bolger attributed the winning effort to "schooling the horse over hurdles".
Mallow trainer Eugene O'Sullivan saddled his first winner at Tralee when Holly's Pride jumped well throughout and came home four-and-a-half lengths clear under Garrett Cotter to take the White Sands Hotel Chase.
"It's a long time coming. This horse took a while to get his act together but he's doing it now. He could run under a 6lb penalty on Wednesday," O'Sullivan said.
The Shell Unleaded Handicap went to Western Chief, who accelerated from the rear of the field to beat the top weight Rossmore Girl by half a length. A significant gamble was landed when Maytpleasethecourt absolutely hacked up in the Kellihers Garage Handicap, the neck margin by which Jamie Spencer allowed him win flattering the runner-up Fridolin considerably.
A critical piece of work tomorrow morning will determine if the leading Guineas hope King Of Kings will have his next race sooner rather than later.
It had been thought that King Of Kings would contest either the Curragh's Futurity Stakes or Doncaster's Champagne Stakes but trainer Aidan O'Brien is now likely to rely on the impressive York scorer Saratoga Springs in the Champagne instead.
"We are not in any panic with King Of Kings. As long as we have horses to run in these good races, there's no rush with him but he will work on Tuesday and if he's fresh then we'll have to race him somewhere," O'Brien said.
That may mean the Furturity on Saturday but O'Brien is also lining up the Cork winner Impressionist for that Group 3 contest.
