Experienced Soldier slays expensive Ballydoyle colt Bargain-buy Lars Soldier (18/1) performed a giant-killing feat in the Curragh’s opening On Course Bookmakers Free Admission Irish EBF Maiden race today, narrowly defeating champion trainer Aidan O’Brien’s first juvenile runner of the year, Confucius. Lars Soldier was purchased post-sale at Goffs last November for only €3,500, a month after today’s runner-up Confucius had purchased by the Coolmore-syndicate for 1.7m guineas at Tattersalls UK, and today was the sole runner to have previously raced. Both horses tracked the leaders in a fast-run juvenile race and while Lars Solider led inside the final furlong, was all-out to hold off Confucius, who showed distinct signs of greeness, by a nose. Lars Soldier’s trainer Michael Mulvany had won the Lincoln with Ribee at today’s venue on March 15 and today reported “Lars Soldier ran well here the last day. I told Wesley (Joyce, winning jockey) going out to keep him fairly forward as he had a bit more experience than the other horses and I think that’s what won it. “The other horse (Confucius) was very green and the penny didn’t drop until late on. It’s nice to win a Curragh maiden as a two-year-old at the start of the season. “I don’t know where we’ll go from here. If some lad comes with a big cheque this fella (brother Laurence, winning owner) might sell him! He’s a good honest little horse.” Quotes from Gary Carson
