Kevin Manning
Born on March 7, 1967 in Kilsallaghan in County Dublin, Kevin James Manning served his apprenticeship with Jim Bolger and remained with him throughout his 40-year career in the saddle. He rode a total of 36 Group 1 winners, all of them for Bolger.
Born on March 7, 1967 in Kilsallaghan in County Dublin, Kevin James Manning served his apprenticeship with Jim Bolger and remained with him throughout his 40-year career in the saddle. He rode a total of 36 Group 1 winners, all of them for Bolger.
He rode his first winner aboard Keynes, trained by Bolger, in the Morny Wing Memorial Apprentice Handicap at the Curragh on April 23, 1983. He achieved his first Group 1 success the high-class juvenile Eva Luna in the 1994 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown.
He rode his first winner aboard Keynes, trained by Bolger, in the Morny Wing Memorial Apprentice Handicap at the Curragh on April 23, 1983. He achieved his first Group 1 success the high-class juvenile Eva Luna in the 1994 Phoenix Stakes at Leopardstown.
A dual champion apprentice in 1984 and 1987, he graduated to the role of stable jockey and was twice runner-up in the Irish jockeys’ championship. His highest score in an Irish season was 81 in 1994. He succeeded Christy Roche as Bolger’s stable jockey in 1993, and he rode the vast majority of his 1,600-plus winners for him.
A dual champion apprentice in 1984 and 1987, he graduated to the role of stable jockey and was twice runner-up in the Irish jockeys’ championship. His highest score in an Irish season was 81 in 1994. He succeeded Christy Roche as Bolger’s stable jockey in 1993, and he rode the vast majority of his 1,600-plus winners for him.
He won the English Derby on New Approach (2008) and the Irish Derby on Trading Leather (2013) among his nine Classic winners. He also won the Dewhurst Stakes five times for Bolger between 2006 and 2012 with Teofilo, New Approach, Intense Focus, Parish Hall and Dawn Approach. They almost pulled off a historic 1,000 Guineas hat-trick when Finsceal Beo was narrowly beaten by Darjina in the French equivalent at Longchamp in 2007, in between winning the Newmarket and Curragh Classics.
He won the English Derby on New Approach (2008) and the Irish Derby on Trading Leather (2013) among his nine Classic winners. He also won the Dewhurst Stakes five times for Bolger between 2006 and 2012 with Teofilo, New Approach, Intense Focus, Parish Hall and Dawn Approach. They almost pulled off a historic 1,000 Guineas hat-trick when Finsceal Beo was narrowly beaten by Darjina in the French equivalent at Longchamp in 2007, in between winning the Newmarket and Curragh Classics.
Having endured a life-long battle with the scales, Kevin announced his retirement, aged 55, following victory on the odds-on favourite Vocal Studies in the Corrib Food Products Maiden in the colours of Bolger’s wife Jackie at Galway on October 31, 2022.
Having endured a life-long battle with the scales, Kevin announced his retirement, aged 55, following victory on the odds-on favourite Vocal Studies in the Corrib Food Products Maiden in the colours of Bolger’s wife Jackie at Galway on October 31, 2022.
“It’s a great way to finish, riding one for the boss and in Jackie’s colours,” he told Racing TV afterwards. “It was a day that was always going to come sooner or later. What brought it along was I really didn’t intend going back next year and I was suspended for the last day of the season at Naas, so this was the last grass meeting.”
“It’s a great way to finish, riding one for the boss and in Jackie’s colours,” he told Racing TV afterwards. “It was a day that was always going to come sooner or later. What brought it along was I really didn’t intend going back next year and I was suspended for the last day of the season at Naas, so this was the last grass meeting.”
Kevin is married to Jim Bolger’s daughter Una. They have two children together, Clare and James.
Kevin is married to Jim Bolger’s daughter Una. They have two children together, Clare and James.
British Classic winners:
British Classic winners:
Derby: New Approach (2008)
Derby: New Approach (2008)
1,000 Guineas: Finsceal Beo (2007)
1,000 Guineas: Finsceal Beo (2007)
2,000 Guineas: Dawn Approach (2013), Poetic Flare (2021)
2,000 Guineas: Dawn Approach (2013), Poetic Flare (2021)
Irish Classic winners:
Irish Classic winners:
Derby: Trading Leather (2013)
Derby: Trading Leather (2013)
Oaks: Margarula (2002)
Oaks: Margarula (2002)
1,000 Guineas: Finsceal Beo (2007)
1,000 Guineas: Finsceal Beo (2007)
2,000 Guineas: Dawn Approach (2013), Poetic Flare (2021)
2,000 Guineas: Dawn Approach (2013), Poetic Flare (2021)
Other major winners include:
Other major winners include:
1994: Phoenix Stakes – Eva Luna
1994: Phoenix Stakes – Eva Luna
1994: Tattersalls Gold Cup – Perfect Imposter
1994: Tattersalls Gold Cup – Perfect Imposter
2004: Hong Kong Cup – Alexander Goldrun
2004: Hong Kong Cup – Alexander Goldrun
2006: National Stakes- Teofilo
2006: National Stakes- Teofilo
2006: Dewhurst Stakes – Teofilo
2006: Dewhurst Stakes – Teofilo
2006: Prix Marcel Boussac – Finsceal Beo
2006: Prix Marcel Boussac – Finsceal Beo
2006: Rockfel Stakes – Finsceal Beo
2006: Rockfel Stakes – Finsceal Beo
2007: Futurity Stakes – New Approach
2007: Futurity Stakes – New Approach
2007: National Stakes – New Approach
2007: National Stakes – New Approach
2007: Moyglare Stud Stakes – Saoirse Abu
2007: Moyglare Stud Stakes – Saoirse Abu
2007: Dewhurst Stakes – New Approach
2007: Dewhurst Stakes – New Approach
2008: Coronation Stakes – Lush Lashes
2008: Coronation Stakes – Lush Lashes
2008: Matron Stakes – Lush Lashes
2008: Matron Stakes – Lush Lashes
2008: Irish Champion Stakes – New Approach
2008: Irish Champion Stakes – New Approach
2008; Dewhurst Stakes – Intense Focus
2008; Dewhurst Stakes – Intense Focus
2008: Champion Stakes – New Approach
2008: Champion Stakes – New Approach
2011: Dewhurst Stakes – Parish Hall
2011: Dewhurst Stakes – Parish Hall
2012: Coventry Stakes – New Approach
2012: Coventry Stakes – New Approach
2012: National Stakes – Dawn Approach
2012: National Stakes – Dawn Approach
2012: Dewhurst Stakes – Dawn Approach
2012: Dewhurst Stakes – Dawn Approach
2013: St James's Palace Stakes – Dawn Approach
2013: St James's Palace Stakes – Dawn Approach
2021: St James’s Palace Stakes – Poetic Flare
2021: St James’s Palace Stakes – Poetic Flare