Frazil

Frazil made an encouraging racecourse debut in the seven-furlong maiden at The Curragh on Sunday, despite things not going to plan in the preliminaries. On his toes beforehand in the paddock, he went down to the start on the track, not on the shoot inside the track, with the result that Luke McAteer had to dismount and a rail had to be moved in order to allow him join his rivals at the start. He was smartly away though, and he travelled well in a prominent position from early. He was one of just a few horses who were still on the bridle on the run to the two-furlong marker. He picked up when his rider asked him to, but he just kept on through the final furlong, he couldn’t get close to the winner Shadowed, but he kept on well to take fifth place, towards the stands side, probably not on the fastest part of the track.

It was an encouraging performance by Jim Bolger’s horse on his belated racecourse debut. He is a full-brother to Poetic Flare, Guineas winner and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, and it is obviously encouraging that his trainer has kept faith in him until making his racecourse debut as a four-year-old. He should benefit from this experience, and that could bring him forward considerably.
The Curragh, 25^th March 2023