Pleascach Wins Irish One Thousand Guineas

Pleascach will head to the Irish Derby (Ire-I) next month after fending off hot favorite Found to win the Tattersalls Irish One Thousand Guineas (Ire-I) May 24 at the Curragh. 

 

The card also included the Tattersalls Gold Cup (Ire-I), won for a second time by Al Kazeem.

 

Pleascach, bred and trained by Jim Bolger and carrying the colors of his wife, Jackie, had only a half-length to spare at the finish line, as Coolmore and partners' French group I winner Found stormed up late after finding traffic a quarter-mile out, but ran out of ground.  

 

Bolger had to wait out a stewards' inquiry into a claim of interference between Pleascach, who drifted left late, and the runner-up, but the result stood.

 

Devonshire was third, 1 1/2 lengths back, and Jack Naylor was a nose behind in fourth in the 18-filly field. Bocca Baciata, Tamadhor, Stormfly, Malabar, Joaillere, Qualify, Raydara, Steip Amach, Plus Ca Change, Mainicin, Pastoral Girl, Russian Punch, Kissed By Angels, and Military Angel completed the order of finish.

 

Pleascach, an Irish-bred daughter to Darley sire Teofilo, was timed in 1:39.17 for one mile on good to yielding turf. 

 

"She's very likely to go straight to the Irish Derby (June 27), all being well, and then the (Irish) Oaks (July 18) after that would be the target," Bolger told Racing Post after the race. "She's better than most of the fillies I've had, especially at a mile and a half. She's probably the best filly I've had at a mile and a half."

 

Ridden by Kevin Manning, Pleascach stalked pacesetting stablemates Mainicin and Steip Amach from third and rallied willingly when the pair gave way inside the final quarter. Bocca Baciata tried to keep pace, but weakened and faded late, as Found got clear inside the final furlong and took second close to the finish.

 

Bolger and Manning teamed to win the 2007 Irish One Thousand Guineas with Finsceal Beo.

 

A maiden winner in her second start at age 2, Pleascach made an impression when second to Bocca Baciata in the listed Salsabil Stakes April 4 at Navan in her 2014 bow, then bounced back to capture the Blue Wind Stakes (Ire-III) just 12 days ago at Naas, both at 1 1/4 miles. 

 

The winning Thunder Gulch mare Toirneach is the dam of Pleascach, who is her only starter. Toirneach is a half sister to Panamanian group III winner Capomorano, by Bluegrass Cat  . Second dam Wandering Pine is a half sister to U.S. listed winner Drina, the dam of multiple grade I winner Spain, formerly North America's all-time money-winning female. 

 

Also Sunday, Al Kazeem won the Tattersalls Gold Cup by a neck from Fascinating Rock after spurting between horses and grabbing the lead late.

 

James Doyle drove the 7-year-old son of Dubawi between pacesetter Postponed and favorite The Grey Gatsby inside the final furlong to take control and hung on as Fascinating Rock rallied smartly to get second. Postponed held for third, and 11-10 favorite The Grey Gatsby was fourth.

 

After winning the 2013 edition of the race, Al Kazeem finished this year's 1 5/16-mile race in 2:13.37. Trained by Roger Charlton, he has won four times at the highest level for his owner/breeder John Deer, and also posted his biggest victory since returning to training last year after a brief spell at stud. He has a 10-7-1 record from 23 career starts that also includes victories in the 2013 Prince of Wales's (Eng-I) and Coral Eclipse (Eng-I).