Poetic Flare and Kevin Manning win the Killavullan Stakes© Photo Healy Racing
Poetic Flare staked his claim for top honours next season by landing the Group 3 Killavullan Stakes in decisive fashion at Leopardstown.
The Jim Bolger-trained colt won on the opening day of the turf season at Naas back in March but wasn’t seen again until finished tenth in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket last Saturday.
That trip across the Irish Sea obviously did the son of Dawn Approach no harm as the 3/1 second favourite took control of this seven furlong event in the straight.
He quickened up nicely when asked by Kevin Manning and kept on strongly inside the final furlong to beat Zaffy’s Pride by two and a half lengths, with Mexico City a further three and a quarter lengths adrift in third.
Bolger was represented by his daughter Una Manning who said, “He’s been growing all year so that’s why he hadn’t run until the Dewhurst. It’s a Group 1 and we had to give it a try and we were happy with his run. He took all the travelling very well.
“He’ll be aimed at the Guineas.
“Clare has a full brother to him so she will be happy as well.”
Kevin Manning said, “He ran well in the Dewhurst and was only beaten eight lengths. He would have come on plenty from the run and it was a good training performance to turnaround a week later.
“He stays well but he has plenty of pace. I felt if I could get a length or two off the bend it might be just good enough. He has a lovely attitude and is a nice horse going forward.”
Paddy Power have introduced Poetic Flare at 33/1 for the 2000 Guineas.
