Jim Bolger

Earlier this week, Jim Bolger told TDN Europe that the stable jockey void left by his retired son-in-law Kevin Manning would be filled by Rory Cleary and Luke McAteer.    Cleary has already recorded big-race success for his long-standing boss, when guiding Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) to G1 Irish 2000 Guineas glory in 2021, and has opened up about what it means to be provided with an opportunity to play a bigger role at Coolcullen Stables this season.    As well as being a key cog in Coolcullen's...

Jim Bolger has provided the strongest indication yet that the stable jockey vacancy left by his retired son-in-law Kevin Manning at Coolcullen Stables will not be filled by an outside rider and that the legendary trainer will be staying loyal to Rory Cleary and Luke McAteer this season. Cleary has already tasted major success for his long-standing boss when partnering MacSwiney (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) to lead home a Bolger-trained one-two in the 2021 Irish 2,000 Guineas, outpointing Manning aboard the better-fancied Poetic Flare (Ire) (Dawn Approach {Ire}). It was...

Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) was the first to cross the seven-figure threshold when hammering for an even 1 million guineas to the bid of the Michael Donohoe seated alongside Yuesheng Zhang during the second of the Sceptre Sessions during the Tattersalls December Mare Sale Tuesday in Newmarket. The 2-year-old filly, trained by Jim Bolger for owner/breeder Ennistown Stud, was a maiden winner second time out at Naas and belied rough odds to be runner-up in the G3 Meld S. and the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac in September and...

NEWMARKET, UK-Classic contender Gan Teorainn (Ire) (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) has been described by Clare Manning of Boherguy Stud as the most exciting horse the 29-year-old has ever had the chance to consign ahead of the eagerly-anticipated Sceptre Session at Tattersalls on Tuesday. Trained by her grandad Jim Bolger, Gan Teorainn advertised her Classic credentials when second in the G1 Prix Marcel Boussac at ParisLongchamp in October and can be backed at odds of 25-1 for next year's Oaks.  The Ennistown Stud-owned filly also boasts a rock-solid pedigree to match her...

Jim Bolger has offered up a glowing tribute to multiple Group 1 and Classic-winning stable jockey Kevin Manning, who at the age of 55, announced his retirement from the saddle after riding a winner for his legendary father-in-law at Galway.  Manning joined Bolger in 1978. Together, they won the Derby with New Approach (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the Irish Derby with Trading Leather (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and came within a whisker of completing the 1,000 Guineas treble with Finsceal Beo (Ire) (Mr Greeley), who went out on her shield at Longchamp...

There were only six runners in Leopardstown's nine-furlong G3 Eyrefield S. on Saturday, but more than a minor share of drama as the Ennistown Stud homebred Speirling Beag (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}--Starscape {Ire}, by Cape Cross {Ire}) prevailed in a renewal marked by an early-straight incident. Held up in rear by Rory Cleary after a tardy start, the Jim Bolger-trained chestnut who had been third a fortnight earlier in The Curragh's G3 Staffordstown Stud S. over a mile had to swing four-wide into the home turn as the Ballydoyle trio got...

Sophomore filly Freedom Of Speech (Ire) (Australia {GB}) (lot 3), a winner at two and third in the G3 Park Express S. this year, sold to Bobby O'Ryan for €140,000 during the Goffs Champions Sale on Saturday. Consigned by Jim Bolger's Glebe House Stables, the daughter of the winning Vocal Nation (Ire) was the only one of four catalogued lots to change hands prior to the start of the Longines Irish Champions Weekend at Leopardstown. Her third dam is the stakes winner, GI Ladies' H. third and Grade I producer...

They have reached dizzy heights as breeders and now Gillian and Vimal Khosla are concentrating on achieving big-race success as owners with Fennela (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), a daughter of their outstanding broodmare Green Room (Theatrical {Ire}), in Saturday's G1 Juddmonte Irish Oaks. The Khoslas know a thing or two about breeding top-notchers. Green Room is the dam of three Group 1 or Classic winners and the owner-breeders behind the 20-year-old blue hen are hoping there is still more to come.  Lord Shanakill (Speightstown) was the first horse to...

The Hurling for Cancer charity match, the brainchild of legendary trainer Jim Bolger, will return to St Conleth's Park, Newbridge, County Kildare on Aug. 16, with a number of sporting and television stars committed to play in the 10th renewal. Bolger and dual Aintree Grand National-winning jockey Davy Russell will bring a host of household names together to take part in the celebrity hurling match, all in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.  Kilkenny's TJ Reid, Richie Hogan and Tommy Walsh, Limerick brothers Tom and Dan Morrissey, Wexford's Damien Fitzhenry...

Two legends of Irish racing will join forces for the first time this season after Jim Bolger revealed that he has a 2-year-old filly by Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) in training with Kevin Prendergast. Bolger gave €31,000 for the recently named Roman Moon (Ire) after Prendergast recommended the filly at the Goffs Orby Sale last September and she is set to break new ground by becoming his first runner with the Friarstown operator. Roman Moon will carry the white and purple colours of Bolger's wife Jackie, once carried to major...

One of only two unraced 3-year-old colts still holding a 2000 Guineas entry, Jim Bolger's homebred Wexford Native (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) demonstrated why with a taking success at Navan on Tuesday to earn TDN Rising Star status. Drawn widest in 21, the 5-1 shot was keen for Kevin Manning tracking over to eventually shadow Ballydoyle's forward-ridden Sun King (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). As that 7-4 favourite turned the screw in the straight, Wexford Native kept tabs and after edging ahead two out strode out impressively to beat that rival by 2...

As he prepares his runners for the upcoming flat season, Jim Bolger is also keeping a watchful eye on his breeding stock. The master trainer may be juggling the education of his runners with the oversight of his broodmares and youngstock, but Bolger has proven mighty adept at this kind of multi-tasking in the past: as has been well-documented, Bolger breeds many of his own runners, often going back two or three generations on both the top and bottom of the pedigree. His 2021 G1 2000 Guineas and G1 St...