Kevin Manning

One of Ireland’s most experienced Flat jockeys, Kevin Manning rode his first winner at the Curragh on April 23rd 1983 and has been attached to the Jim Bolger stable for all of his professional life. Indeed, Kevin is married to Jim’s daughter, Una, and while quite tall for a jockey, he manages to go to scales at a remarkable 8 st 8 lbs.

Principal Trainer: Jim Bolger

Kevin ManningNotable Wins:

  • Blue Wind Stakes (Akdarena 2010)
  • Solonaway Stakes (Border Patrol 2009)
  • Minstrel Stakes (Three Rocks 2009)
  • Tetrarch Stakes (Vocalised 2009)
  • Tetrarch Stakes (Free Judgement 2009)
  • Greenham Stakes (Vocalised 2009)
  • Newmarket Champion Stakes (New Approach 2008)
  • Dewhurst Stakes (Intense Focus 2008, New Approach 2007, Teofilo 2006)
  • Irish Champion Stakes (New Approach 2008)
  • Matron Stakes (Lush Lashes 2008)
  • Yorkshire Oaks (Lush Lashes 2008)
  • 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)
  • 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)
  • Nassau Stakes (Alexander Goldrun 2005)
  • Hong Kong Cup (Alexander Goldrun 2004)
  • Prix de l’Opera (Alexander Goldrun 2004)
  • Irish Oaks (Margarula 2002)
  • Phoenix Stakes (Eva Luna 1994)
  • Tattersalls Gold Cup (Perfect Imposter 1994)
  • Ballycorus Stakes (Noora Abu 1987)
  • Irish Cambridgeshire (Chammsky 1984)

Early Days

Kevin was a top apprentice in his earlier years and was crowned Champion Apprentice in 1987 with 33 winners, defeating none other than subsequent six-time English Champion Jockey, Kieren Fallon, in the process. One of his first notable successes was for the Paddy Mullins stable as he guided Chammsky to victory in the Irish Cambridgeshire at the Curragh in 1984, but it was Jim Bolger’s Noora Abu that really sent his career into orbit. A wonderfully consistent performer who won twelve races in her career, Kevin first rode her to victory in a valuable handicap at the Curragh in September 1986 and the following season they combined to win seven races, including the Listed Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown in July.

Rising To The Top In Bolgers

Understudy to Declan Gillespie for many years in the Bolger yard, Kevin was then second jockey behind Christy Roche in the early-1990’s as the yard became more and more powerful. When Roche left the stable in 1993 to team up with Aidan O’Brien, Kevin took over as stable jockey and has stayed there ever since. Although never quite managing to be Champion Jockey, he has gone close on a couple of occasions and is rarely out of the top four every year. As 1994 was the first year that he was officially first jockey to such a top stable, it was important that he get off to a good start, and with the help of star juvenile Eva Luna, Kevin claimed his first Group 1 winner. Having won the Railway Stakes at the Curragh on her in late-June, the pair combined to land the Heinz 57 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown. Other big-race wins that season were gained on Zavaleta in the Athasi Stakes and Perfect Imposter in the Tattersalls Gold Cup, both at the Curragh.

With Kevin now firmly established as Bolger’s stable jockey, he gained further important victories on Desert Style in the Tetrarch Stakes at the Curragh in 1995, while the same horse also took the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at Leopardstown. The very talented Idris won the fiercely-competitive Golden Pages Handicap at Leopardstown and he was to prove a great servant to the stable around this time, winning the Gladness Stakes, Meld Stakes and Desmond Stakes at the Curragh, as well as the Ballycorus Stakes at Leopardstown.

Classic Glory And The Goldrun

Kevin gained an overdue Classic success in 2002 when 33/1 shot, Margarula, trained by Jim Bolger and owned by his wife, won the Darley Irish Oaks at the Curragh. This proved to be a very popular success with his fellow jockeys and the Irish racing public in general. However, there is little doubt that it was the brilliant Alexander Goldrun that established Manning on the international stage and Kevin will certainly have very fond memories of her when he looks back on his career. In total, Kevin won 10 races on this top-class performer, five of them at Group 1 level. Her wins include the Prix de l’Opera at Longchamp and the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in 2004, the Nassau Stakes at Goodwood in 2005 and two consecutive wins in the Audi Pretty Polly Stakes at the Curragh in 2005-6. Indeed, she went very close to adding a second Nassau Stakes to her impressive tally in August 2006, but was just foiled by the legendary Ouija Board after a terrific duel inside the final two furlongs.

New Stars On The Scene

The 2006 season will always be remembered by Manning for his association with the brilliant Jim Bolger-trained pair of the two-year-old colt Teofilo and the juvenile filly Finsceal Beo. Teofilo ended the season as Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in Europe after winning all his five starts including Group 1 victories in the National Stakes at the Curragh in September and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket the following month. Finsceal Beo on the other hand, ended the season as Champion Two-Year-Old Filly in Europe after impressive victories in the Prix Marcel Boussac at Longchamp and the Rockfel Stakes at Newmarket.

Back On The Classic Trail

2007 began in disappointing fashion for Manning as Teofilo was ruled out of the 2000 Guineas through injury and indeed, he would never see a racecourse again. However, the season would prove to be arguably Manning’s best-ever campaign. There was more than ample compensation for Bolger and Manning as Finsceal Beo won both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas, finishing second in the French renewal of that race in between. Saoirse Abu completed a Group 1 double in the Phoenix Stakes and the Moyglare Stud Stakes, both at the Curragh. He also gained a significant payday when riding the Bolger-trained Lush Lashes to victory in the Goffs Fillies Million. However, perhaps the best was saved for last as remarkably, Bolger produced another two-year-old in a remarkably similar mould to Teofilo. His name was New Approach and he won the exact same five races that Teofilo had won the previous year, culminating in a game success in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket that ensured he would be crowned Champion Two-Year-Old Colt in Europe.

New Approach Takes Centre Stage

Unlike Teofilo, New Approach enjoyed a trouble-free winter and proved an even more formidable performer as a three-year-old, though his campaign began in frustrating fashion with him finishing second to Henrythenavigator in both the England and Irish 2000 Guineas. However, once he was stepped up in trip, New Approach and Kevin Manning did nothing but improve, gaining memorable victories in the Epsom Derby, Irish Champion Stakes and English Champion Stakes. That season also saw Manning form a remarkably successful partnership with the Bolger-trained Lush Lashes, with the pair winning the Coronation Stakes at Royal Ascot, the Yorkshire Oaks and the Matron Stakes at Leopardstown. Manning wrapped up what had been the best season of his long career by gaining his and Bolger’s third consecutive win in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket with the unconsidered Intense Focus.

Back To Reality

After three remarkably successful years for the Bolger/Manning team, 2009 and 2010 were somewhat quieter. While they have not added to their respective Group 1 tallies, they have been a constant force in lesser stakes races, with the likes of Vocalised, Three Rocks and Akdarena all contributing handsomely. There may not have been a stand-out juvenile for the team in 2010, but with the likes of Banimpire, Radharcnafarraige and Head Space to look forward to, hope springs eternal.

Whatever happens with the three-year-olds of 2011, it is unlikely to be too long before the Coolcullen team return to the Group 1 winner’s enclosure.

Info supplied by Horse Racing Ireland - Updated January 2011