Ticket best in race marred by fatal injury to Tiger Jim Bolger's Ten Year Ticket is unbeaten now after a couple of starts, today landing the Listed Holden Plant Rental (C & G) Trial Stakes at Leopardstown, a race marred by favourite Year Of The Tiger breaking down badly under two furlongs out. Ten Year Ticket (16/1 — 18/1 — 8/1) stayed on strongly to lead close home, out-pointing Ballydoyle’s King Of Athens by a neck. The runner-up’s handler, Aidan O’Brien, had been bidding for a fifth success in a row on the card, fielding King Of Athens, Battle Of Liege (finished at the rear) and the aforementioned Year Of The Tiger. Unfortunately Year Of The Tiger’s injuries turned out to be fatal. Ten Year Ticket, bred at owner Nicky Teehan’s Bluegate Stud in County Kilkenny, was adding to gains achieved in a Curragh maiden, at odds of 33/1, on soft going, in October. The chestnut son of Rock Of Gibraltar is obviously ground versatile then, and winning rider Kevin Manning said: “He's done it well. He won well at the Curragh last year on heavy ground and we weren't so sure going there whether he would handle it or not. “He's after handling heavy and now fast ground. That maiden in the Curragh turned out well. He's a horse going in the right direction. “He got the seven well, at the line today, and there is no reason why he shouldn't get further. “He'll improve plenty as it's only his second start. Coming back from heavy ground to quick ground he was still quite green but he'll improve plenty.” (GC & EM)
