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Michael Graham

Michael Graham

Pleascach too strong in 1,000 Guineas

Sun 24th May 2015, 16:34

Pleascach, far side, wins from FoundPleascach, far side, wins from Found
© Photo Healy Racing

Pleascach saw out the mile trip well in the Irish 1,000 Guineas to give Jim Bolger and son-in-law Kevin Manning Classic glory.

The Teofilo filly was last seen winning a Group Three in Naas over a mile and a quarter by eight-and-a-half-lengths. She holds entries in the Irish Oaks and Irish Derby both over a mile and a half and the Pretty Polly Stakes over a mile and two.

Bolger had three runners in this Classic and it was his Mainicin who assumed pace-making duties. Stablemate Steip Amach raced in second with Pleascach settled in third by Manning, in the Jackie Bolger colours.

Steip Amach took over with a quarter of a mile to go. She was closely followed by Pleascach and the strong-travelling Bocca Baciata in third. The 5/4 favourite Found started to motor in fifth on the outside.

Pleascach was ridden to lead over a furlong from home. Found rapidly cut into her lead as she made good headway into second but in the closing stages Pleascach dug deep and refused to yield as she kept up the gallop to score by a neck. There was half a length in it at the line. Devonshire at 33/1 was a further length and a half way in third at 33/1. She was a nose in front of Jack Naylor

Jim Bolger said: "She has a nice bit of toe and is basically not a miler. The Guineas is a bonus. It worked out well with a strong pace. I was a bit worried that a 66 rated filly (Mainicin) could do it, and hopefully it won't affect her mark too much!

"She's a relentless galloper with a turn of foot. She will go for the Irish Derby and then the Oaks after that. Entering her for the Irish Derby was not so much about what I thought of her as much as what I thought of the colts!"

On Round Two, who won the Marble Hill at the Curragh yesterday, he said: "He pulled out fresh this morning and is in good form. He's a very straightforward horse and he's hardy.

"He'll either go to Ascot or the Railway Stakes. It's been a big weekend for Teofilo!"

Pleascach was nicely backed from 7/1 on opening show down to an SP of 11/2.

Pleascach was introduced at 7/1 for the Irish Derby by Boylesports. Paddy Power priced her at 6/1. Found was left unchanged at 6/1 for the Investec Oaks by Paddy Power and BoyleSports.

Additional reporting by Alan Magee

1st
11/2
Tote €8.50 €3.10
2nd
0.5L
5/4Fav
€1.02
3rd
1.5L
33/1
€7.30
4th
nose
16/1
About Michael Graham
Michael has worked in horse racing journalism for more than 15 years, having also written a weekly betting column on Gaelic football and hurling for a newspaper. He is involved in writing the My Racing Story features on this website. He spent a year in South Africa completing a Diploma in Business Administration and also studied Newspaper Journalism in Belfast. He enjoys playing 5-a-side football on a regular basis.