Poetic Flare underlines stallion credentials with St James's Palace Stakes romp

Poetic Flare stamped his stallion credentials in no uncertain terms as a deeply impressive display in the St James's Palace Stakes saw Jim Bolger's homebred land his second Group 1 of the season.

The son of another Bolger homebred in Dawn Approach had already emulated his sire when winning the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and, following highly creditably efforts in the French and Irish equivalents of the Classic, repeated the feat by landing Royal Ascot's premier three-year-old Group 1 prize.

Bolger's involvement with Poetic Flare's family traces back to the great granddam Saviour, a daughter of Majestic Light foaled in 1987 who also went on to breed Teofilo's dam Speirbhean. Saviour also produced Elida, a winning daughter of Royal Academy who in turn bred Poetic Flare's dam, Maria Lee, when mated with Rock Of Gibraltar.

Bolger's homebreds have now landed three Group 1s this term, with Poetic Flare's Curragh conqueror Mac Swiney having won the Irish 2,000 Guineas. However, it was with trademark dry humour that Bolger reflected on his accomplishment as a breeder.

Jim Bolger: 'You wouldn't care if he came to you off the back of a truck as long as you had him'Credit: Patrick McCann

"We've bred from the family since the very early 1980s, so a long time," he told Sky Sports. "When you have a horse winning the St James's Palace like that you don't really think about all the relatives and the breeding, you wouldn't care if he came to you off the back of a truck as long as you had him."

Dawn Approach retired to Darley's Irish base at Kildangan Stud in 2014 following his own triumphant three-year-old campaign. However, he had been purchased privately by Godolphin midway through his juvenile campaign having carried the Bolger colours to glory in the Coventry Stakes.

Where Poetic Flare's future lies remains to be seen, but Tuesday's success leaves little doubt that he is the hottest three-year-old stallion prospect around.

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