Bold Discovery spark Curragh Celebration for Harrington

PA Sport Reporters
July 2, 2023 5:19 pm

Listed winner for rider Shane Foley on the 18-1 shot.

Shane Foley returned from injury with a winner as Jessica Harington’s Bold Discovery won for the first time since his debut in the Dubai Duty Free Celebration Stakes at the Curragh.

Foley faced a race against time to be fit for the Irish Derby having broken his collar bone almost four weeks ago and while he had no joy on Sprewell in the big race, he left happy enough with a Listed winner.

Bold Discovery looked a very promising type when scoring first time out at two and he went on to be placed in the Killavullan Stakes.

He had been highly tried this season, finishing behind Paddington the last twice, most recently in the Irish Guineas.

Down markedly in class, he was sent off at 18-1 with Dermot Weld’s filly Tarawa all the rage on the back of her fast-finishing fourth in the Irish 1000 Guineas behind her stablemate Tahiyra.

🏆 Listed glory for Bold Discovery who keeps on strongly to land this EURO 100,000 prize for Shane Foley & @Jessica_Racing at the @curraghrace pic.twitter.com/cWwsyFcIVJ

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) July 2, 2023

With just over a furlong to run, Bold Discovery took over from Pretreville and held off the challenge of Tarawa by half a length.

Harrington said: “That’s what he was showing us earlier in the year.

“He had allergies and kept scoping wrong after his races, but we’ve been able to treat them since the Guineas and he’s all right now.

“He loved going around that bend and for a big horse, he goes on that quick ground.

“That was really good and I’d say he will come forward from that and get a bit of confidence.”

Sprewell was unplaced in the Irish Derby (Brian Lawless/PA)

Sprewell came home sixth in the Irish Derby after being hampered by San Antonio, who suffered a fatal injury over four furlongs out.

Harrington added: “Sprewell is OK. He just got interfered with at the wrong time and probably wasn’t quite letting himself down on the ground.

“I shut my eyes for a second and thought he was going to fall and Shane was going to fall again. It’s amazing what goes through your mind in half a second.

“He’ll live to fight another day.”