Parish Hall Another Bolger Product Top and Bottom

Trainer Jim Bolger is no stranger to the Hong Kong International Races winner’s circle. In 2004, the successful conditioner sent across the 3-year-old filly Alexander Goldrun (Ire) (Gold Away {Ire}) for the Hong Kong Cup, and–with stable rider Kevin Manning along for the ride–outgamed local hero Bullish Luck (Royal Academy) for a 21-1 upset to become the first female to win the race. When Bolger sends one overseas, it behooves one to pay attention, and Parish Hall (Ire)(Teofilo {Ire}) will conclude a busy 2014 season in Sunday’s G1 Hong Kong Vase. 

Winner of the G1 Dewhurst S. at two in 2011, the 5-year-old, owned and bred by Bolger’s wife Jackie, developed a hind-leg infection early in his 3-year-old season and was forced to miss the whole of the 2012 season. Winner of the G3 Diamond S. over the Dundalk all-weather track last season, Parish Hall was narrowly beaten in this year’s G3 International S. at The Curragh June 29 before landing the G3 Meld S. in his next start July 20 (video). Third of four in the G3 Royal Whip S. Aug. 24, the bay was sixth over an insufficient trip in the G3 Boomerang Mile at Leopardstown Sept. 13, but improved dramatically with a strong runner-up effort behind Pether’s Moon (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) going 2400 meters in the G3 Cumberland Lodge S. at Ascot Oct. 4. 

Parish Hall has made a favorable impression in morning trackwork and galloped over the dirt surface Tuesday morning at Sha Tin to the satisfaction of his groom Ger Flynn. 

“He travelled over well and hasn’t lost a whole load of kilos,” Flynn commented. “He’s eating well and really seems to be flourishing over here. We’ll probably give him a look at the turf and let him point his toe on Thursday by which time his trainer will be here. He’ll be an outsider Sunday, but he won’t know that and remember Alexander Goldrun was big odds when she won the Cup for us.” 

A legend among Irish trainers, Bolger is a breeder of any number of important horses and is intimately acquainted with Parish Hall’s pedigree. 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Bolger conditioned Saviour (Majestic Light) to a trio of victories in nine starts for owner Tom Gentry, took possession of the mare and bred two stakes winners from the mare’s first six foals, including 2001 Irish 1000 Guineas Trial winner Speirbhean (Ire) to the cover of Danehill. Retired after an unplaced run in the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas, Speirbhean was bred to the young sire Galileo (Ire) in her first two years at stud. Her second produce was a colt of 2004 named Teofilo (Ire), who became the champion 2-year-old colt in Europe in 2006 with five wins in as many starts, including defeats of Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) (Danehill) in the G1 National S. and G1 Dewhurst S. 

Bolger also bred and trained Siamsa (Quest for Fame {GB}) on behalf of his wife and John Corcoran, and while she only won minor handicaps at Killarney and Gowran Park during her racing career, her daughter, the Fairyhouse maiden winner Halla Siamsa (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) produced Parish Hall as her first foal in 2009. Halla Siamsa is also the dam of Parish Hall’s full-brother, this year’s G2 Futurity S. third Hall of Fame (Ire), while Siamsa’s produce of 2009, Light Heavy (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), won the G3 Ballysax S. and G2 Derby Trial S. for Team Bolger in 2012.