Bolger sees Lush future for exciting Coronation Stakes heroine

Lush Lashes is the here and now for the Derby-winning trainer and she proved yet another decisive Group One winner at the festival with a three-and-a-quarter length victory over Infallible and Carribean Sunset in the Coronation Stakes.

In driving seat: Lush Lashes (left) and Kevin Manning win the Coronation

The future is Cuis Ghaire, who is now 8-1 favourite for the 1,000 Guineas after a one-and-threequarter length success in the six-furlong Albany Stakes that defied the pedigree of a two-year-old sired by Derby winner Galileo.

Defeat for New Approach in both the English and Irish Guineas meant a season that promised so much for Bolger looked in danger of falling flat. That has changed dramatically within a fortnight.

First came New Approach's unexpected run and victory in the Derby and now the royal double that provided first wins at the meeting for Bolger's stable jockey Kevin Manning.

Lush Lashes had finished sixth in the 1,000 Guineas, behind three of yesterday's opponents.

Victory in the 10- furlong Musidora followed before a fifth place in the Oaks. The trainer dropped her back to a mile yesterday to have a shot at another Group One race. She will be back to a mile and a half for her next run in the Irish Oaks at The Curragh.

Bolger, whose three previous Royal Ascot winners had included Flame Of Tara in the 1983 Coronation, said: 'I was very tempted to go for the (Group Two) Ribblesdale, but having won at the level already, we thought we'd go for the Group One.

'I was a little concerned about her getting the mile and a half at Epsom but, as it happened, it was the more the track than not getting the trip that beat her. 'Cuis Ghaire is not really a sixfurlong filly but because of her class she is getting away with it.'

The Debutante Stakes at The Curragh beckons en route to the Moyglare Stakes.

Bolger's volte face in the running Derby plan of New Approach and its effect on the ante-post betting left a sour taste with many professionals.

But he tried to make light of the situation when asked if 8-1 was a fair Classic quote for his filly, saying: 'I don't know much about ante-post betting as you know, so I'll leave it to those who do. But it's probably fair enough.'

Three blank days for Godolphin ended when Campanologist won the King Edward VII Stakes, a victory which owed most to a peach of a front-running ride from Frankie Dettori.

The Italian said: 'I've been on suicide watch and they've hidden all the knives and ropes.'

The Great Voltigeur is now the likely target but St Leger quotes seem wide of the mark. Whisper it quietly, but Sir Michael Stoute looks to hold a tremendous chance of finally breaking his Leger duck.

King Edward runner-up Conduit is 7-1 with sponsors Ladbrokes. His Derby second Tartan Bearer heads the betting at 7-2 and Patkai, his seven-length winner of the Queen's Vase under Ryan Moore yesterday, is 4-1.