Under The Radar: Stars align for Foley with Tango Flare

It’s not entirely true to say that the Bold Lad Handicap was the only race that Pat Foley had in mind for Tango Flare for 2025, since he finished third in the Bold Lad Handicap in 2024, but it was one of them.  It was one of three of them.

The first, chronologically speaking, was the median auction race at Fairyhouse in early June, the race that he had won in 2023 and again in 2024, and the second was the Dash at The Curragh on Irish Derby weekend.  Neither of those worked out this time.  He bumped into King Cuan at Fairyhouse, and it never really happened for him in the Dash, he was short of room on the run to the furlong marker when he needed to go forward.  Frustrating.  He just couldn't get a run at it and he left the impression that he finished off his race with plenty more left to give.  

Different story in the Bold Lad at the Irish Champions Festival, in the first race at The Curragh on the second day.  The stars aligned and Tango Flare delivered.

“We never had any doubt about the horse or about his ability,” Foley says.  “He was a big price [50-1], but we thought that we were going there with a chance.  He was down to a handicap rating of 91, 8lb lower than the mark off which he finished third in the race last year and 11lb lower than his peak.  We knew that he was in good form, and we liked his draw in stall seven.  We were just a little worried about the ground.”

They were forecasting lots of rain for The Curragh on the Sunday.  It rained overnight and they said that there was more to follow.  Not much arrived though.  Foley walked the track on Sunday morning and figured that his horse could get away with it.

“To look at him,” he says of the son of Fulbright, “you’d think that he’d handle an ease in the ground well.  But he’s such a good-moving horse, he really is at his best on fast ground.  They were calling it yielding, and it was probably on the good side of yielding, which was just about as soft as he would want it.”

The race didn’t go entirely to plan either.  He wasn’t that quickly away and he was further back in the field than ideal early on.  He travelled though for his rider Luke McAteer, and that that was the most important thing.  Position was secondary.

Still travelling at the two-furlong marker, his rider moved him towards the far side into clear sailing and asked him for his effort.  Tango Flare picked up smartly, went past his rivals on the far side and joined the front rank.  Then it was a case of toughing it out.

 A furlong out, I knew he was going to be placed,” says Foley.  “He’s so honest.  Big Gossey is tough, he was our danger on the near side, but I knew once Luke got our fellow out that he wouldn't stop.”

Foley has had big winners before.  He won the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Chase with Rebel Gold in January 2023, and he won the Newlands Chase with the Gold Well gelding the following month.  He sent Special Wan to Kentucky Downs in September last year to win a fillies’ race.  This was different though.  This was the Irish Champions Festival, the pinnacle of the Flat racing season in Ireland and the world watching.

“It was great,” he says.  “Our biggest win on the Flat by far.  There was a lot of relief too.  It hadn’t been working out for Tango Flare this season, so it was great that he was able to deliver in such a big race.  I was delighted for his owner Ray McSharry, and for all the team here.”

There is a Listed race at Naas in two weeks in which Tango Flare could run next, but the ground may be gone by then.  He needs good or fast ground, and he is a six-furlong specialist, so he is restricted in terms of options.  There was also talk of going to Bahrain, but his trainer isn’t sure.

Foley said: “I’ll have a chat with Ray and with his breeder Jim Browne.  The Naas race would be ideal for him if the ground hasn’t gone for him by then.  After that, we may just put him away for the year now, plan for next year.”

Next year, it will be 30 years since Danoli won the Denny Gold Medal Chase at Leopardstown, and that is difficult to believe.  Foley was young during the Danoli days, but he remembers every one of them.  He lived and breathed it all with his late father Tom.

“They were obviously very special days.  My father realised very quickly how important Danoli was.  Anyone who wanted to come to see him, he welcomed them.  I don’t think he refused anyone.  And he was always himself.  He never changed.  I do remember too the pressure that he was under.”

There were many Danoli days.  The Sun Alliance Hurdle in March 1994, the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle, taking on Dorans Pride, the following December, the Aintree Hurdle the following April.  And, of course, the Hennessy Gold Cup at Leopardstown in February 1997, when he took on Jodami, Merry Gale and Imperial Call and the crowd lifted him home, across the winning line and back into the winner’s enclosure.

“There was a little television in what used to be the pre-parade ring at Leopardstown,” says Fley.  “That was where I watched that race.  I remember the crowds, the noise when he won, the reception that he got when he came back in.  That was a serious race too, two Gold Cup winners.  It was some performance by my father to get him back, and Tommy (Treacy) gave him a super ride.”

Of course, it was all about National Hunt racing for Foley when he was growing up.  He had just decided that he was going to try to make a go of it as an amateur rider when injury intervened.  He was always going to train though, and he took on the licence when his father sadly passed away in February 2021. 

Tom’s final winner was Rebel Gold who, fittingly, won the beginners’ chase at Gowran Park, his local track, on Thyestes Chase day in January 2021.  Fitting too, then, that Rebel Gold provided Pat with his first big winner when he landed the Dan & Joan Moore Memorial Chase.

But it’s about Flat racing now too, and Foley is well able to compete with the best of them when he has the right material.  Special Wan proved that.  Tango Flare proved that.  More to follow.

He has won his bumper and his maiden hurdle, he started back on the flat at Clonmel there last week.  We’re happy with him, he should be able to compete in the better handicap hurdles.  He’ll start off for the season at Gowran’s Champion Chase meeting in two weeks’ time.

He’s 12 years old now, but he doesn't know it!  He retains all his enthusiasm, and he’s in great form.  He’ll probably start off in the PWC Champion Chase at Gowran.  That might be a little further for him that ideal, two and a half miles, but we’ll see how he gets on and we’ll go from there. 

She kept on well to win her maiden hurdle at Down Royal a few weeks ago.  She’s out of a sister to Arctic Fire, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she progresses now.