Feasta, noseband, collars Late Rosebud© Photo Healy Racing
The on course plunge on Late Rosebud (2/1 to 4/5) went astray at Leopardstown as Feasta reeled her in late on in the seven furlong maiden.
Pat Smullen bounced Late Rosebud out smartly and they made all. Feasta, meanwhile, slotted into second place.
As the field came round the final bend Smullen was still going best on Late Rosebud. Kevin Manning had started to niggle on Feasta.
It looked like the favourite would prevail, but Manning and Feasta drew level with 100 yards to go and the jockey stood up in his irons as they hit the line for a snug neck success in the end. It was a further length back to Inkerman in third of the six runners.
Feasta, on debut, had been absolutely friendless in the market. She opened at 9/2 and drifted right out to be returned at 7/1.
The success didn’t surprise Jim Bolger though who said: “I thought she might nearly win. She’s the very last one from her sire Lil’s Boy [in 2010]. He only had one this year. He’s the only sire in Ireland with a 100 per cent record! One foal, one winner.”
This was Bolger’s eighth win in the last fortnight. When Bolger and Manning have teamed up at Leopardstown this season they now have 10 wins from 36 runners and a level stake profit of almost 25 euro. Dandy Girl was withdrawn not under orders. Rule 4 applies to all bets – deduction is 15 cent in the euro.
Additional reporting by Gary Carson
