Mandatario (far-side) just beat Kerkeni in Gowran's opener© Photo Healy Racing
Jim Bolger (he won this last year with subsequent Irish Derby hero Trading Leather) is at Croke Park today and he'll doubtless have been delighted to receive the news that his Manduro newcomer Mandatario landed the opening Powerstown Stud European Breeders Fund Maiden at Gowran under Kevin Manning.
Nicely supported from tens into 13/2 on track, the June Judd-owned victor led over a furlong out and held off Kerkeni (went wide under two furlongs out) by a short head.
Ger Flynn, representing Bolger, disclosed: "Kevin said he's a big immature horse but he was smart away and did it well. It's very unusual to win here from such a bad draw (gate fourteen) and he looks like a nice horse for the future.
"He was a bit babyish in the parade ring beforehand but we've always liked him - he was just a bit slow to come to hand." (AM & EM)
