Teofilo wins National Stakes

Teofilo gave Holy Roman Emperor a sound beating in the $380,000 Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh on Sunday in an effort so impressive that British bookmakers have installed him as the favorite for both the 2000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby next spring.

The Galileo 2-year-old followed his pacesetter Slaney Time until taking over at the quarter pole from which point he had no trouble holding off the Aidan O'Brien-trained 4-9 favorite Holy Roman Emperor. Partnered by Kevin Manning, the 2-1 Teofilo galloped to a handy 1 1/4-length victory, getting the 7 furlongs on good to yielding ground in 1:26.49.

The victory was a big one for the Bolger family as Teofilo was bred and is trained by Jim Bolger, is nominally owned by Bolger's wife and was ridden by their son-in-law Manning.

Now undefeated in four starts, Teofilo had previously won the Group 2 Futurity Stakes over the National course and distance. Bolger said that he would consider a pair of 7-furlong Group 1 contests for Teofilo's final juvenile start, the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp on Oct. 1 or the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Oct. 14.

Brave Tin Soldier gave O'Brien some consolation as he sped to a 2-1/2 length victory in the listed 6-furlong Blenheim Stakes on the National undercard. Out of a full sister to Fusaichi Pegasus, the 15-8 Michael Tabor-owned son of Storm Cat covered the 6 furlongs in 1:13.20.