Steinbeck has the class to halt Bolger's amazing run

13 April 2012

Jim Bolger bids to land the Dewhurst Stakes for the fourth consecutive year and the twice-raced Chabal is certain to be popular.

A seven-furlong maiden winner on his Leopardstown debut, Chabal was next a neck second in the Group 1 National Stakes over the same distance.

He has since been snapped up by Godolphin, but will have his last run for Bolger in this seven-furlong event, which usually determines the European two-year-old champion.

But Steinbewck (2.25) went into plenty of notebooks after a thoroughly professional display when beating previous winners on his debut at Naas in May. The fact that he has not been seen since should not be a concern.

The colt, from the first crop of 2,000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, has been allowed to strengthen and mature in his own time.

"He's a horse with a lot of class," said trainer Aidan O'Brien.

"Steinbeck was always a very exciting horse at home and has always shown loads and was very natural.

"He won at Naas first time out and then we had to back off training him for a while. There's been no big problem - just growing pains - but we are very happy with him."

Success for Silver Grecian this Group 1 contest would be a victory for the romantics.

John Ryan, who has just 12 horses in his care, paid just 16,000 guineas for the grey at the Tattersalls Craven Sale and the colt promptly won his first three starts, including the Group 2 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in June. The son of Haafhd appears to hold solid place claims.

Steinbeck has the class to halt Bolger's amazing run

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