Sli Na Ghealai (Rory Cleary) beating Basilah Bear© Photo Healy Racing
Jim Bolger and Rory Cleary teamed up to take the Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies Nursery at Leopardstown with the well-backed Sli Na Ghealai
The daughter of Vocalised was available at 8/1 this morning but was sent off the 5/2 joint favourite and was ridden to lead over a furlong out.
Cleary’s mount kept on strongly inside the final 150 yards to beat Basilah Bear by four and a quarter lengths with Sun Never Sets a further length and a quarter away in third.
Bolger said, “She’s hardy and handles the ground.
“I had a couple in it and was going to run one of the others and Rory said to run her. I’d forgotten that she’d run well on soft ground at Tipperary.
“I don’t think she’ll run again at the Curragh on Wednesday but that could change!”
