Poetic Flare lights up in St James’s Palace

Recent history suggests that lightly-raced three year olds fare well in the St James’s Palace stakes. Enter Poetic Flare.

The Jim Bolger-trained colt was having his fifth race of the season when heading to the biggest stage of them all and he did not disappoint.

The QIPCO 2000 Guineas winner was again accompanied by regular partner, Kevin Manning and jumped from the stalls with plenty of enthusiasm. The early pace was taken up by Ontario, who stretched five lengths clear approaching the home turn – Poetic Flare happy to sit prominent in the chasing pack.

The rest of the field closed very quickly on the keen leader when rounding the final bend, but all were being asked questions by their respective jockeys. It was clear to see Kevin Manning was very happy with how his mount was travelling.

Gathering his ride, the button was pushed two-and-a-half furlongs out and the response was instant, and continued to be all the way to the line. The victory in the end was comfortable, with a winning margin of four-and-a-quarter lengths from Lucky Vega and Battleground.

Poetic Flare was emmulating his sire, Dawn Approach in winning the St James’s Palace, having also achieved the exact same feat in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

Jim Bolger at the age of 79 certainly has a serious horse on his hands for the remainder on the season.