Bolger Ponders Teofilo Plan

Teofilo could have one more run this season following his brilliant performance in the Group One Laing O'Rourke National Stakes at the Curragh yesterday.

The Galileo colt shot to the head of the betting for the Stan James 2000 Guineas and Vodafone Derby after a hugely impressive defeat of Holy Roman Emperor which saw him extend his winning sequence to four.

The latter, sent off the 4-9 favourite, flattered briefly under Kieren Fallon, but Jim Bolger's charge, named after Olympic boxing legend Teofilo Stevenson, was always going too well and held on to score by a length and a quarter.

A trip to Newmarket or Longchamp now beckons for the 2-1 winner, with Bolger describing him as 'the best I've had' ? some accolade from the man who trained the brilliant St Jovite to a runaway success in the Irish Derby and King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes in 1992.

'We've two options this year, the Dewhurst or the Lagardere (Grand Criterium at Longchamp on Arc day). It's very possible he'll run again,' the Carlow handler said.

'We're not getting hung up about the ground with him, although he wouldn't want it heavy.

'We'd be expecting him to stay a mile and a half next year. The Guineas is his priority. If he wants to be the next Triple Crown horse I'm not going to stand in his way.'

Aidan O'Brien was happy enough with Holy Roman Emperor's effort and he was impressed with the winner.

He said: 'He ran well, but the winner is very good. Our horse is not finished for the season yet.'

O'Brien enjoyed better fortune elsewhere on the card and intends treading a familiar path with Brave Tin Soldier after the colt made it third time lucky with a comfortable victory in the Laing O'Rourke Blenheim Stakes.

Two years ago he won the Listed contest with Ad Valorem and that juvenile went on to victory in the Middle Park Stakes, and the master of Ballydoyle hopes he can do it again.

The youngster had finished second at Goodwood and York on his previous starts, but went one better this time.

Fallon was always prominent on the 15-8 favourite before sending him to the front at the furlong pole and under strong handling Brave Tin Soldier drew clear to beat British raiders Invincible Force and Bazroy by two and a half lengths and one.

'He's a lovely horse and we'll have a look at the Middle Park with him. We won this race with Ad Valorem (in 2004) and then he went on to win the Middle Park,' said O'Brien.

'He's getting better with each run and he's learning with every run. It was a good gallop and he got in there tight and Kieren taught him a lot.'

Brave Tin Soldier remains a 33-1 shot with William Hill for the Stan James 2000 Guineas.

The Coolmore team struck again in the other Listed race on the card, the Laing O'Rourke Solonaway Stakes, when Fallon was seen at his strongest in driving Ivan Denisovich up to beat Latino Magic and Clive Cox's Dunelight by a neck and a short head.

'He gave him some ride,' enthused O'Brien afterwards.

'I'm not sure where he's going to go but we'll keep this horse busy now.'

(C) PA Sport