Wexford Native, near side, gets to The Acropolis© Photo Healy Racing
There was a thrilling conclusion to the Listed Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes at the Curragh with a four-way go at the furlong pole. It was Wexford Native who came home best, though, under Kevin Manning. Pretreville led narrowly on the far rail from Emphatic Answer with Wexford Native getting involved on the outer. The Acropolis stuck his head through between Pretreville and Emphatic Answer to deliver his challenge.
The Acropolis and Wexford Native had the other two beaten with 100 yards to go. The Acropolis held a fractional advantage but Manning drove his partner up in the final stride to secure victory by a neck at 18/5.
The Acropolis had to settle for second at 7/1. Emphatic Answer (5/1) dropped a length and three parts back to third.
Trainer Jim Bolger said: “He’s been a work in progress and didn’t run until he was three so we are trying to make up for lost time.
“We’ll be stepping him up now to probably ten furlongs and hopefully he’ll progress.
“I bought the dam in America many moons ago. She’s bred a few winners but nothing of his class and hopefully we will be able to build a pedigree from here.”
Manning added: "It was great to get him back on track. I don't know what happened in Ascot, he left the gates and got lit up and ran a little bit blind with me. It was his blip in his copybook.
"He settled fine there today and picked up well. It's great to get him back on track.
"He is probably a horse that just does enough when he gets there and probably stepping up another furlong or two would be to his favour."
Paddy Power halved Wexford Native from 66/1 to 33/1 for the King George.
Additional reporting by Alan Magee
