Ghalanta holds off Boris in the Curragh Stakes

The www.thetote.com Listed Curragh Stakes for 2yo's only over five furlongs went to the Jim Bolger trained, Kevin Manning ridden An Ghalanta at 9/2.

The daughter of Holy Roman Emperor only lost her maiden tag last time out at Tipperary after having five runs before that.

She came up against decent sorts on those five runs finishing second to Fire Lily, Requinto, Sophies Echo and Hestian, while she finished fourth to Power on her only other run.

Today she was always prominent and hit the front two furlongs from home. She kept on well under pressure from there holding on close home by just a head from the fast finishing Boris Grigoriev at 5/1 in second.

The runner-up under Seamie Heffernan had to be switched right inside the final furlong and was an unlucky loser.

The 3/1 joint favourite Bible Black finished a further length and a quarter back in third under Johnny Murtagh for Ger Lyons while the other 3/1 joint favourite Experience finished back in fifth.

The outsider of the field Hexagonal at 50/1 ran a cracker for Lee Smyth with Chris Hayes in the saddle finishing just a head behind Bible Black in fourth.

Winning trainer Jim Bolger said of his winner: "She hasn't run too many bad races and she is improving. Sprinting is her game. She might not run again this season as there isn't too many five furlong races for her.

Bolger went on to talk about Banimpire, following her run in the Yorkshire Oaks on Thursday, he said: "She was due in season today but went in season yesterday. I think the winner (Blue Bunting) was the same but it effects every mare differently.

"She is very well and she will go for the Blandford Stakes next (September 11th at the Curragh) before going to the Prix De l’Opera at Longchamp. That will be it for the season for her, unless we decided to go to Hong Kong."

Donal Murphy