St Leger Festival: Sea Of Rain fancied to see Jim Bolger land repeat win in Betfred May Hill Stakes at Doncaster
JIM BOLGER landed the Betfred May Hill Stakes with Turret Rocks in 2015 – and 11 years on he is back at Doncaster attempting to repeat that feat with improving Curragh scorer Sea Of Rain.
The daughter of Naval Crown produced a career-best when accounting for Joseph O’Brien’s reopposing Ballyskeagh in Group Three company late last month and having since been snapped up by Newtown Anner Stud, could have more to come on Town Moor.
“She put up a good performance in the Group Three and we bought her after that and we’ll find out on Thursday if it was good business,” said PJ Colville, representing the owners.
“She looks an uncomplicated filly and the mile will suit her well. Good to soft should be fine and we look to have a nice draw near the middle.
“Charlie Appleby’s horse will be tough to beat and she looks really promising, but after that it looks fairly open.
“It’s another step up again, but we think she’s up to it. She’s been learning on the job and her last run was her best run so far and that is always a positive. She seems to be going the right way, but we’ll have a go and see what happens.”
As highlighted by Colville, it is the Godolphin candidate Musical Times that has hit plenty of right notes in two starts so far and now bids to follow in the footsteps of Desert Flower who claimed this two years ago before going on to secure Classic honours the following season.
Appleby told www.godolphin.com: “It was always the plan to give Musical Times a break following her win at Yarmouth and she has done nicely for it.
“She is taking on some more experienced rivals here but the step up to a mile shouldn’t be an issue and I am hopeful that she can continue her progression.”