A SECOND Group 3 triumph in as many months has set up Boundless Ocean for a shot at the big time as Jim Bolger’s charge produced a determined effort in the Bahrain Turf Club Desmond Stakes.

After running sixth in the Irish Derby, the Teofilo colt won the Meld Stakes over nine furlongs here last month and he took the drop back to a mile in his stride on his first outing in the colours of Saudi Arabian owner Sheikh Abdululelah Abdulaziz A Almousa.

The 11/8 favourite controlled this race from the front under Kevin Manning and when he had to pull out plenty in the straight, he was more than equal to the task at hand.

The patiently ridden Juncture arrived with a menacing effort on the outer heading into the last furlong but Boundless Ocean was unyielding at all stages. He kept on in most determined fashion to score by three-quarters of a length. There was a further four lengths back to the third-placed Charterhouse.

“He’s obviously very versatile. He would need pace at a mile but he’s happy to do his own thing when he doesn’t get it. We’ll go for the Royal Bahrain Irish Champion Stakes next. The owner is from Riyadh in Saudi Arabia and it’s his first horse in Ireland,” said Bolger.

“He was bought specifically for Saudi Cup next February. Depending on how he gets on when he goes out there it will either be the Saudi Cup or one of the other races on that card. Hopefully it will be the Saudi Cup.”

Dragon flies in

Shanghai Dragon followed up a win at Gowran Park late last month by taking the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Handicap over a mile. The daughter of Dragon Pulse was poised on the heels of the leaders approaching the straight and came with a strong effort for Ben Coen to lead entering the last furlong. At the line, the Shanghai Racing Partnership-owned filly had a length to spare over Morning Approach.

“She’s thriving at home and seems to be enjoying the good weather. I thought this would be a big ask off a mark of 81 but she’s hit a bit of form and she’s on a roll,” reported the trainer.

Maybe Just Maybe prevails

AIDAN O’Brien was expected to take the opening Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Maiden and this seven-furlong contest duly went to the Ballydoyle trainer, but it was the 14/1 chance Maybe Just Maybe and not the odds-on Library (5/6) who prevailed.

The market leader and Remind set a brisk pace and held a good lead over the remainder for much of the race but the field compressed in the straight and a patient Wayne Lordan produced the daughter of Lord Kanaloa with a telling last-furlong charge that carried her past her stablemate late in the day for a half-length triumph.

“You can draw a line through her first run and Aidan has been very happy with her at home since then and she’s improved a lot since that run. She got a lovely ride from Wayne and could be back here on Champions Weekend for the Ingabelle Stakes,” reported stable representative Chris Armstrong.

Kevin Manning picked up a two-day careless riding ban for an incident shortly after the stalls where Shane Foley was unshipped from Satin.

Only obliges

Aidan O’Brien and Wayne Lordan struck again as the red-hot favourite Only (1/3) enjoyed a straight forward triumph in the Horseraces Single Member S.A. Of Grece Maiden over a mile. There was just momentary concern for the front-running favourite early in the straight as Toriangel looked to be going nicely in her slipstream.

Only asserted from over a furlong out though to score by one and three-quarter lengths. Only is the first foal out of Winter who won the 1000 Guineas under Lordan back in 2017.

“She had two lovely runs (second on her first two outings) and she’s a lovely, scopey filly. She’ll probably step up in trip and class now and she’s in the Blandford at the Curragh next month which could be an option,” declared Chris Armstrong.

Giladah relishes the battle

THE Dermot Weld-owned and trained Giladah (4/1) recorded her second course-and-distance success of the season in the 50-80 rated Sadettin Atig Memorial Handicap over nine furlongs.

A three-year-old daughter of her trainer’s classic-placed filly Tarfasha, Giladah struck for home under Chris Hayes with over a furlong and she bravely held the oncoming Highland King by a neck.

“She’s hardy and loves a battle. Hopefully she might progress into contesting a premier handicap before the end of the season,” observed the trainer’s son Kris.

King rules

Point King (8/11) continued his steady and taking progress up the ranks in the Jockey Club Of Turkey Vinnie Roe Stakes.

Joseph O’Brien’s charge lined up in search of a hat-trick in this listed one-and-three-quarter-mile contest and won with more than a touch of style on what was his stiffest test to date.

When the front-running Manu Et Corde gave way in the straight, the Shane Crosse-ridden son of Zoffany quickly took command and moved into a decent lead which saw him reach the line two and a quarter lengths ahead of the 25/1 shot Simply Glorious.

The winner carries the colours of the Lloyd J. Williams Syndicate and is developing into a stayer of some potential.

“What you’d like about him tonight is that he showed a turn of foot and Shane said he was able to win without being hard on him. He’s a very relaxed type of horse who is improving all the time and you don’t know what’s in the tank with him,” remarked the trainer’s representative Brendan Powell.

Hasten quickens

Noel Meade sent out his first two-year-old winner of the season as Hasten Slowly and Colin Keane got off the mark at the third attempt in the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden over seven furlongs.

A pleasing second run at Gowran Park which yielded a third to Thebestisyettobe boded well for the prospects of this Kessaar filly and she was always nicely placed before looming upsides Semblance Of Order entering the last furlong.

The latter did not go down without a fight but Hasten Slowly always seemed to have his measure and got home by a neck with another Meade runner, the newcomer Encosta, showing up well in third.

“We think she’s quite nice and the third filly is a nice filly too. She’s a good, strong filly who loves this ground and Colin said she’s still very laid back.

“It’s nice to get that on the board as our two-year-olds have been running well without winning,” reported Meade whose charge is owned by Mrs Finbar Cahill, Caroline Hendron and former flat handicapper Ciaran Kennelly.