Address: Coolcullen, Co. Carlow

Principal Jockeys: Kevin Manning, Davy Moran, Martin Harley, Danny Mullins

Notable Wins: Newmarket Champion Stakes (New Approach 2008), Dewhurst Stakes (Intense Focus 2008, New Approach 2007, Teofilo 2006), Irish Champion Stakes (New Approach 2008, Park Express 1986), Matron Stakes (Lush Lashes 2008), Yorkshire Oaks (Lush Lashes 2008, Condessa 1981), Albany Stakes (Cuis Ghaire 2008), Coronation Stakes (Lush Lashes 2008), Epsom Derby (New Approach 2008), Goffs Fillies Million (Lush Lashes 2007), National Stakes (New Approach 2007, Teofilo 2006), Moyglare Stud Stakes (Saoirse Abu 2007, Priory Belle 1995, Park Appeal 1984), Phoenix Stakes (Saoirse Abu 2007), Irish 1000 Guineas (Finsceal Beo 2007), Newmarket 1000 Guineas Stakes (Finsceal Beo 2007), Rockfel Stakes (Finsceal Beo 2006), Prix Marcel Boussac (Finsceal Beo 2006), Pretty Polly Stakes (Alexander Goldrun 2006 + 2005, Noora Abu 1989, Flame Of Tara 1983), Nassau Stakes (Alexander Goldrun 2005), Hong Kong Cup (Alexander Goldrun 2004), Prix de l’Opera (Alexander Goldrun 2004), Irish Oaks (Margarula 2002, Give Thanks 1983), Phoenix Stakes (Mantovani 1996, Eva Luna 1994), King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes (St Jovite 1992), Irish Derby (St Jovite 1992), Epsom Oaks (Jet Ski Lady 1991), Prix de l’Abbaye (Polonia 1987), Cheveley Park Stakes (Park Appeal 1984), Coronation Stakes (Flame Of Tara 1983)

Jim Bolger has enjoyed tremendous success as a trainer since taking out his licence in the late 1970’s and is adept at getting the very best out of all of his charges. From humble beginnings, he has built up a fine training establishment from his base in Coolcullen, Co. Carlow and has captured many big races around the world in the last three decades.

Early Successes
In the early days, Jim appeared to have a particular knack of getting the best out of his fillies and Give Thanks’ success in the 1983 Irish Oaks was his first Classic success. In 1984, Park Appeal proved to be a brilliant juvenile and this filly completed a rare big race double with victory in the Moyglare Stakes at the Curragh followed by a resounding success in the Cheveley Park Stakes at Newmarket. Park Express gave the stable a notable victory in the 1986 Irish Champion Stakes at the Phoenix Park under John Reid, while the speedy Polonia landed the Prix de l’Abbaye at Longchamp twelve months later.

Jet Ski Lady scored a spectacular if somewhat unexpected win in the 1991 Epsom Oaks and the following year St Jovite was just as impressive in winning the Irish Derby by 12 lengths. The last-named performer went on to win the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes later that season. The years that followed that productive period saw sporadic rather than consistent success at the highest level with the wins of Eva Luna and Priory Belle in the 1994 and 1996 renewals of the Phoenix Stakes being the highlights of that period. He returned to the Classic winner’s enclosure when saddling Margarula to win the 2002 Irish Oaks at 33/1.

A New Era Of International Success
It was Alexander Goldrun that truly heralded the return of the Bolger yard to the big time, as that filly won a total of five Group 1’s in four different countries, a remarkable achievement by horse and trainer. However, it has been the last three seasons that has seen Bolger reach a career peak. In both 2006 and 2007, he trained the European Champion Two-Year-Old, namely Teofilo and New Approach. That achievement was made all the more remarkable considering that both horses won the exact same five races during each season, culminating with wins in the National Stakes and the Dewhurst Stakes. He also trained Finsceal Beo to win the Prix Marcel Boussac in 2006, before that filly went on to gain the Bolger yard ample compensation for the premature retirement of Teofilo at the beginning of the 2007 season by winning the English and Irish 1000 Guineas later that year.

The unbelievable run of form for the Bolger yard continued unabated into the 2008 season, with Lush Lashes supplementing her win in the Musidora Stakes by winning no less than three Group 1’s (namely the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Yorkshire Oaks at Newmarket and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown) and finishing second in two others. That Royal Ascot made it a double on the day for Bolger, as earlier he had saddled Cuis Ghaire to win the Albany Stakes. However, undoubtedly the highlight of the season came a few weeks earlier than that memorable day at Ascot, with New Approach revenging two second-place finishes in the English and Irish 2000 Guineas to win the Epsom Derby in tremendous fashion. While injury ruled him out of the Irish Derby, he more than made up for missing that engagement by winning both the Irish and English Champion Stakes before being retired as a true Champion. Bolger’s season was wrapped up with a truly remarkable third consecutive win in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, this time with the outsider Intense Focus.

A Slight Lull In Form
Bolger’s unbelievable run of form had to come to an end at some stage and while 2009 could not be considered a poor year for him by any stretch of the imagination, he failed to land a Group 1 and by the standards that he had set in the previous number of seasons, that had to be considered disappointing. All told, it was a season of near misses at the highest level for him, with Gan Amhras finished third in the Newmarket 2000 Guineas, Cuis Ghaire finished second in the Newmarket 1000 Guineas and Oh Goodness Me finishing third in the Irish 100 Guineas, not to mention Marfach failed by just a short-head to win the lucrative Goffs Million Mile. Despite the frustration of those results, Three Rocks, Vocalised, Oh Goodness Me, Maoineach and Free Judgement all won at Group level, with Shreyas and Ard Na Greine scoring at listed level.

To The Future
While Bolger will not have the services of his top juvenile from 2009 for 2010, as Chabal has been sold to race for Godolphin, he does have a number of promising sorts that showed useful form as juveniles and could well resume his winning ways at the highest level. These include Marfach, Kitty Kiernan, Shintoh, Sagacious and in particular the Group 3-winning Free Judgement. Whether his star performer comes from that bunch or an unraced three-year-old, Bolger’s absence from the Group 1 winner’s enclosure is unlikely to be too prolonged and 2010 well see a return to the phenomenal successes he enjoyed in the years prior to 2009.

Updated April 2010.