Goffs Million winners strike again with Bloom Just days after their Goffs Million success, Jack Cleary and Aidan O'Brien once again successfully combined with Bloom in the Irish EBF Fillies Maiden (Smullen Series). Out of a full-sister to Irish 2000 Guineas winner Roderic O'Connor, the bay victor finished seventh on debut at Leopardstown last month and came in for market support this afternoon, going off at 5s from early shows of 9/1. Fourth halfway, she was ridden in pursuit of the leader from the two-furlong pole and gradually reduced the deficit, getting up in the closing stages to prevail by half-a-length. In front for much of the contest and poaching a three-length lead on the approach to the straight, Ifweonlyhavelove (25/1) was the one just denied, with this barrier trial winner having to settle for the runner-up berth under Rory Cleary. A stable companion of the winner and the first-string on jockey bookings, River Ara (11/8f) was another two-and-three-quarters of a length away in third. "Ben Coen rode her the first day at Leopardstown last month where she ran nicely in a maiden which has turned out to be not-too-bad," stable representative Chris Armstrong commented. "With normal improvement she was coming here with a good chance and obviously Wayne's (Lordan, on River Ara) filly missed the start, so that was her chance gone. "It was a nice performance by Bloom and she is a lovely, big filly. A mile is no problem at the moment and she'll have no problem going further. She is in the mix for the Silken Glider Stakes (Curragh) and could have a touch of class as a three-year-old. "River Ara missed the break and was timid around horses but will be a nice maiden to try and get a win into before the end of the season." Additional reporting by Thomas Weekes
