Theobald and Kevin Manning© Photo Healy Racing
The market spoke loudly in favour of Jim Bolger's newcomer Theobald in the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Maiden at Leopardstown and he duly did the business, recording a quick double for Kevin Manning.
The 11/10 favourite (3/1 this morning) was produced to tackle front-runner Coat Of Arms passing the two pole in the mile contest.
He had to work to get the measure of that rival but got his head in front inside the final furlong and was going away at the line to record a two-and-a-half length victory. Berkeley Square stayed on to pip his Ballydoyle stable-mate Coat Of Arms for the runner-up spot.
“He’s a potentially smart colt and will come on a nice bit for the run,” said Bolger.
“He’s a lazy horse like Verbal Dexterity, and we brought both of them to Beechy Park for a few gallops although they didn’t work together.
“He can go back to seven furlongs with that run under his belt. It’s been a nine year wait as I bought the dam as a yearling. The third dam was a champion (four-time US Grade 1 winner Dispute), and the sire (Teofilo) can be relied on any time.”
The winner holds Group 1 entries in the Phoenix and National Stakes while he is also in next year's Derby.
Manning has also taken the opening auction race on Red Persian for Patrick Prendergast.
(Additional reporting by Alan Magee)
