NEWS broke yesterday that the classic and dual Group 1 winner Mac Swiney, bred and trained by Jim Bolger, has moved from the Irish National Stud to Anngrove Stud.

At two Mac Swiney won the mile Group 1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster, following two seven-furlong victories at the Curragh, a maiden and the Group 2 Futurity Stakes where he had Cadillac and Ontario in arrears.

Mac Swiney went one better than his sire New Approach (Galileo) to land the Group 1 Tattersalls Irish 2000 Guineas and give Bolger his first win in the classic.

Fourth to Adayar, Mojo Star and Hurricane Lane in the Group 1 Derby at Epsom, Mac Swiney was placed behind Sealiway and Dubai Honour in the Group 1 Champion Stakes. In his racing career he accounted for State Of Rest, Lucky Vega, Mishriff, Poetic Flare, Adayar and Alcohol Free.

As Bolger sent out his first winner of the Irish 2000 Guineas, for good measure he also saddled the runner-up in this Tattersalls-sponsored Group 1 classic, Poetic Flare, a son of Dawn Approach (New Approach). Poetic Flare won the Group 1 Qipco 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

The Irish classic winner Mac Swiney is the second winner for his unraced dam Halla Na Saoire (Teofilo). She was born a year after her full-brother Light Heavy and nephew Parish Hall, both sons of Teofilo (Galileo).

Light Heavy won the Group 2 Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial before finishing third to Camelot and Born To Sea in the Group 1 Irish Derby. Parish Hall won the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes.

Another whose career was shaped by Bolger, New Approach was the champion European two- and three-year-old, his victories including the Group 1 Dewhurst and National Stakes at two and the Group 1 Derby and Irish and English Champion Stakes in his second season.

He won eight of his 11 starts, his only defeats coming when he was runner-up to Henrythenavigator in both the English and Irish 2000 Guineas, and when he was third in the Group 1 Juddmonte International.

New Approach had the perfect start at stud when Dawn Approach, bred and trained by Bolger, also won the Dewhurst and National Stakes, and at three added the Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes and 2000 Guineas. That first crop by New Approach also included the Oaks winner Talent and the Group 1 Nassau Stakes heroine Sultanina. His first southern hemisphere crop included the Australian Oaks winner May’s Dream.

The second European crop by New Approach featured a pair of German Group 1 winners, Elliptique and Potemkin, and he was back among the big time winners with Masar winning the Group 1 Derby. That crop also included Group 1 Australian winner Cascadian.

Jim Bolger’s association with the family of Mac Swiney began 30 years ago at Keeneland when he purchased Mac Swiney’s third dam Amoura (Northfields). Two and a half years later she produced Siamsa (Quest For Fame) who won twice. She is the grandam of Mac Swiney.

Race record

MAC SWINEY (IRE), Chesnut horse, 2018. Jt 4th top rated 2yr old colt in Ireland in 2020. Won 4 races, value £624,697, at 2 and 3, from 7 furlongs to 1 mile, Irish 2000 Guineas, Curragh, Gr.1, Futurity Trophy Stakes, Doncaster, Gr.1, Futurity Stakes, Curragh, Gr.2, also placed third in Champion Stakes, Ascot, Gr.1.

At stud

Retired to stud in 2024.

Information

Stands at: Anngrove Stud, Mountmellick, Co Laois, Ireland.

Contact: Alastair Pim

Telephone: +353 (0)57 862 4122, (0)87 2902188

Email: alastairpim@gmail.com