Bolger’s not wise after the event

I usually have plenty of time for the Irish maestro Jim Bolger, but I think his condemnation of the ground after his filly Cuis Ghaire lost her unbeaten record at Leopardstown last week was probably a case of sour grapes.

On ground officially described as good to firm the Epsom Derby-winning handler had plenty of time to raise his doubts about the surface, and indeed a race was even run over the same course and distance half an hour before. He didn’t saddle a runner but had the opportunity to ask any one of the 12 jockeys or trainers who did compete before allowing his filly to take her chance.

Whether he did or didn’t, I don’t know, but suffice to say, he obviously thought the track was suitable and allowed his Royal Ascot winner to line up. It was only after his charge was beaten by, you’ve guessed it, an Aidan O’Brien-trained runner, that the track was all of a sudden deemed unsafe and much quicker than the official report.

I simply cannot understand why trainers feel the need to complain after a race has been run, or furthermore, once their charge has been beaten.

Am I alone in believing if his runner had won he wouldn’t be complaining? Bolger could easily have walked the track minutes before the off time and was able to pull the filly out as late as after the first race, but he chose not to.

His comments and criticism are completely unjustified. For a trainer of his calibre and experience his post race statements were extremely unprofessional. I know it’s a bit early to be buying Christmas presents but I’ve already been out and purchased some new toys for Mr Bolger after all the ones he lost when he threw them out of the pram last week!

The Tapeta principle

No great surprises to hear that Michael Dickinson’s innovative Tapeta surface will be laid down, primarily, at Meydan’s new training track, to replace the old out-of-date dirt surface that has been used in recent years on the training and main circuit at Nad Al Sheba.

Dickinson was seen on plenty of occasions at the Dubai races last season and may have been in the process of convincing Dubai Racing Club officials that his mixture of, and I quote: “53 per cent sand, 5 per cent rubber and 42 per cent secret recipe” was the surface to choose.

Many will be aware that the mix was laid down at Godolphin’s Al Quoz stables two years ago and the trial has seemingly proved a success.

It has not been announced which surface will grace the actual Meydan racetrack itself, and it will be interesting to see how the ground stands up to the hundreds of horses trained at Nad Al Sheba.

So, what makes the Latin word for carpet so special? “It has a spring and there is plenty of ‘give’ to it upon initial impact, then it takes additional muscle power to push off while accelerating over the track.” But what is the “secret recipe”? Answers on a postcard please!