Alpinist stays on well to beat off Silver Lightening and Lake District at the Curragh© Photo Healy Racing
Equipped with a first-time tongue-strap, Alpinist (a half-brother to Group 1 winners, Albanova and Alborada) showed a likeable attitude to round-off a memorable day for Jim Bolger as he made it four for the yard by winning the finale at the Curragh, the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Maiden.
Punters that combined the Coolcullen winners, Saburo Caesaria Rehn's Nest and Alpinist were rewarded at odds of nearly 194/1. Kevin Manning rode three of them whilst Rory Cleary was on Rehn's Nest.
Manning on Alpinist, made all and his well-backed (2/1 into 13/8) mount fought off favourite Piet Mondrian (eventually finished fourth), Lake District and finally the very-promising newcomer, Silver Lightening to score by half a length.
"He's going the right way and needs better ground. He'll probably run in one of the Derby trials," signed off Bolger in the aftermath. (AM & EM)
