Steel Bull shows his metal to win Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes

30 Jul 2020

Michael O’Callaghan was well rewarded for turning our Steel Bull just seven days after winning his debut at Naas, as he landed the Gr.3 Molecomb Stakes in good style yesterday. It had been a tremendous few weeks for the team at Rathasker Stud, including first season sire Coulsty gaining a first Group winner, and this was another good winner for the stud’s stalwart Clodovil. Colin Keane took the ride on Steel Bull. It was typically fast and furious and Steel Bull raced just behind the leaders, with Army Of India and Ben Macdui showing good early speed. With a wall of horses in front of him entering the final two furlongs and Keane yet to move a muscle, it briefly looked as though Steel Bull could be in trouble, but he edged out, and picked up well to win it a shade cosily by three quarters of a length from a battling Ben Macdui. International Dream was third, a length and a half further back. After the race, Keane said: “Looking at the replay of Steel Bull winning his maiden, he won it very well and when I was talking to Michael beforehand, he was very confident that he would have a lot of speed. We followed Sardinia Sunset and he took us as far as we wanted. He showed a very good turn of foot. He puts his head down and tries very hard. I would imagine he is a horse who is going to keep progressing. I think he would get an extra furlong, because he settles. He is a nice colt. It was an unknown as to whether he would handle the track, but he is a very straightforward horse. He handled it very well. I had to wait, but the lads beforehand were adamant he had a good turn of foot, and that’s what I was hoping and hanging on to, and when I got out, he did have it. When you are on a horse like this, it makes it easy for you. He travelled everywhere and, when I gave him a squeeze, he picked up very well.”

 

Bred by John O’Kelly who boards his mares at Rathasker who commented, “MacArthur’s Park was recommended to me by Maurice Burns as a potential broodmare and the mare boards at Rathasker. It’s a little unbelievable really. She’s produced a very nice horse on just her second foal!” John offered Steel Bull as a foal at Tattersalls Ireland where he was purchased by Madeline and Theresa Burns, he was bought as a yearling by Riona and Andrew Lynch who sold him at the breeze-up sales to Michael O’Callaghan. This is the family of Listed Curragh Stakes winner Three Sea Captains, and Vera Lilley the dam of Gr.3 Anglesey Stakes runner up Lil Grey. This is the back family of Gr.1 Haydock Sprint Cup winner Lavinia Fontana.

Links:
Stallion: Clodovil

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