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Donal Murphy

Donal Murphy

Grafelli battles to Tyros success

Thu 26th Jul 2012, 19:00

Grafelli (centre) battles gamely to hold off Lines Of Battle (left) with Kingston Jamaica back in thirdGrafelli (centre) battles gamely to hold off Lines Of Battle (left) with Kingston Jamaica back in third
© Photo Healy Racing

The Jim Bolger trained Grafelli recorded his second Group 3 success in the space of five days as he took the Korean Racing Authority Tyros Stakes under Kevin Manning.

The son of Hannouma ran out an impressive six and a half length winner of the Anglesey Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday but he had to show his battling qualities to follow up this evening.

The Aidan O’Brien trained second string Kingston Jamaica (9/1) attempted to make all under Seamie Heffernan but he was caught close home by Grafelli who then fended off the challenge of Lines Of Battle and Joseph O’Brien to win by a neck at the line.

Having opened the 11/10 favourite with Paddy Powers this morning the winner drifted out to 13/8 at the off as Lines Of Battle was backed from his opening show of 9/4 this morning into 5/6 favourite.

Winning trainer Jim Bolger said afterwards: "He showed his class again today.

"He stays the trip well and shouldn’t have any trouble with a mile. He will have a bit of a break now and then go to France for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardère (Group 1) on Arc day.

"I never saw a horse to go on that ground on Sunday (soft to heavy) and lose just a kilo in weight. He was back to exactly the same weight this evening."

Stan James have trimmed his odds for next year's 2,000 Guineas from 33/1 to 20's.

(On-course reporting by Alan Magee)

About Donal Murphy
Donal graduated from Maynooth University in 2010 with a BBS in Equine Business and since attained a diploma in Sports Journalism from Dublin Business School. He holds a variety of roles in the horse racing industry, reporting for the Press Association and p2p.ie, while also working for SIS and the Tote. From Wexford, he is a keen runner and has completed over 100 parkruns at various locations around the country.