Dawn Approach this morning warmed up for his October 13 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes engagement with a solid work-out under big-race jockey Kevin Manning.
The unbeaten son of New Approach worked in company with fellow Dubai Dewhurst Stakes entry Leitir Mor over five and a half furlongs at trainer Jim Bolger's Beechy Park in County Carlow.
Europe's leading two-year-old on official figures, Dawn Approach now carries the Godolphin blue silks and was last seen when emphatically taking the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh on September 15.
Bolger said: "I'm sure he has improved since the Curragh. I was a little concerned about the going (there) - it was on the soft side - and he hadn't run since June. I wasn't certain I had him at his peak.
"As it happened, he seemed to do it very easily. He came out of the race very well and was very fresh two days later.
"I think he only dropped a couple of kilos and he had it back on within three days.
"On his work this morning, I couldn't be more pleased. Hopefully, he will hold his form into the Dewhurst Stakes."
Bolger is the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes king, having won four of the six last renewals. One of the quartet was Dawn Approach's sire, New Approach, and the pair share the same battling spirit according to Bolger.
He continued: "One thing that they very much have in common is the will to win.
"After that, there would not be a lot of similarities. New Approach was highly charged and it was a bit of a struggle to keep the lid on him.
"But this fellow is quite laidback, even lazy in his races. He is very relaxed and I don't have any horses that sleep longer than he does! But he seems to have the same ability as New Approach.
"Dawn Approach showed us almost from the word 'go'. Just watching him, you could see this fellow had something - he has a terrific action.
"He is able to quicken up when the need arises in his races and loves his racing.
"I've been very fortunate in having four horses that could win the Dewhurst Stakes - hopefully this fellow will be the fifth.
"His optimum distance? From six furlongs to a mile. I would not see him staying much beyond a mile but I could be wrong."
The County Carlow trainer also confirmed that Leitir Mor will join Dawn Approach in the seven-furlong Dubai Dewhurst Stakes which is worth £300,000.
Bolger will also bring Wexford Opera to the Group One Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs and impressive Gowran Park maiden winner Trading Leather in the mile Group Three Autumn Stakes.
All three races are run on Dubai Future Champions Day at Newmarket, Saturday, October 13.
For more information please contact:
Tony Rushmer, Racing PR Manager, Newmarket Racecourses, 07702 579 382
Dubai Future Champions Day is the glittering highlight of Newmarket's autumn schedule with the £300,000 Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, traditionally the strongest two-year-old contest in Europe, headlining a fantastic card with six Group races and the Betfred Cesarewitch.
The Dubai Dewhurst Stakes is the defining two-year-old contest of the season and the seven-furlong race is a key pointer to future Classic success in both the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and the Investec Derby.
Frankel, the greatest racehorse of modern times, rounded off his two-year-old campaign with success in the 2010 Dewhurst Stakes before going on to capture the QIPCO 2000 Guineas, while other recent scorers New Approach (2007) and Sir Percy (2005) went on to triumph in the following season's Derby after finishing second in the 2000 Guineas. Other notable winners since the turn of the century include the unbeaten Teofilo (2006), subsequent dual French Classic scorer Shamardal (2004) and Rock Of Gibraltar (2001), who won the 2000 Guineas and four other Group Ones the following year.
The £150,000 Group One Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes has produced a host of future champions. Brigadier Gerard, Known Fact and Rodrigo De Triano all returned to Newmarket to capture the 2000 Guineas after Middle Park success, while the six-furlong contest has also proven a springboard for sprint stars in recent years.
Oasis Dream, now a leading sire, bagged the Middle Park Stakes in 2002 and finished the following season as Europe's champion sprinter after victories in the Darley July Cup at Newmarket and York's Nunthorpe Stakes, while Dream Ahead, who ran away with the Middle Park Stakes in 2010, achieved the same feat in 2011 with a hat-trick of Group One wins in the Darley July Cup, Haydock's Sprint Cup and the Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
High-quality juvenile action continues with the £60,000 Group Two Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes for fillies. The seven-furlong contest has been won by some top-class performers including Speciosa (2005) and Finsceal Beo (2006), who was denied a memorable Classic hat-trick after being beaten a head in the French 1000 Guineas in between wins in the English and Irish 1000 Guineas.
Dubai Future Champions Day also features the £80,000 Group Two Dubai Challenge Stakes over seven furlongs as well as the famous heritage handicap, the £160,000 Betfred Cesarewitch over two and quarter miles. A superb afternoon of racing is completed by the £40,000 Group Three Autumn Stakes and the £55,000 Group Three Darley Stakes.
Dubai Future Champions Day - Newmarket, Saturday, October 13, 2012:
1.50pm Dubai Challenge Stakes (Group Two) 7f £80,000
2.20pm Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes (Group One) 6f £150,000
2.50pm Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Group One) 7f £300,000
3.30pm Betfred Cesarewitch (Heritage Handicap) 2m 2f £160,000
4.05pm Vision.ae Rockfel Stakes (Group Two) 7f £60,000
4.40pm Autumn Stakes (Group Three) 1m £40,000
5.15pm Darley Stakes (Group Three) 1m 1f £55,000
DAWN APPROACH (IRE) FACTFILE
ch c New Approach (IRE) - Hymn Of The Dawn (USA) (Phone Trick (USA))
Form: 11111
Owner: Godolphin
Trainer/Breeder: Jim Bolger IRE
Dawn Approach
Dawn Approach is from the first crop of New Approach, who was trained by Jim Bolger to win eight of his 11 starts including five Group One contests - the National Stakes (2007), Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (2007), Investec Derby (2008), Irish Champion Stakes (2008) and Champion Stakes (2008). His dam, Hymn Of The Dawn, was also trained by Jim Bolger. Dawn Approach made his first appearance early this season, recording a comfortable victory over five furlongs at the Curragh on March 25 by a length and three-quarters from Canary Row. Next time out at Naas on May 16, he moved up to six furlongs and beat Canary Row once again, but this time he powered right away to win by an impressive five and a half lengths. The step up to Listed company was now on the agenda and Dawn Approach returned to Naas on June 4 to contest the Rochestown Stakes over six furlongs. He once again raced close to the pace and came away in the final furlong to take the honours by two and three-quarter lengths from Mister Marc with subsequent Group One winner Pedro The Great back in fifth. A further progression in class then beckoned with Dawn Approach making the trip across the Irish Sea to line up in the six-furlong Group Two Coventry Stakes on the opening day of Royal Ascot, June 19. Starting the 7/2 second favourite, Dawn Approach took a keen hold early before asserting in the final furlong to defeat subsequent dual Group Two winner Olympic Glory by three-quarters of a length. Following his Royal Ascot victory, Dawn Approach was purchased by Godolphin, with the agreement being the colt would remain with Bolger up to and including the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes. His first start in the blue silks of Godolphin came in the Group One Vincent O'Brien Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh on September 15, when he was the warm 2/5 favourite. Settled in third behind the runaway leader Flying The Flag, Dawn Approach gave his supporters little cause for concern as he powered away in the final furlong for a decisive four and three-quarter length victory. Dawn Approach has been partnered by Kevin Manning on all his five starts.
Race Record: Starts: 5; Wins: 5; 2nd: -; 3rd: -; Win & Place Prize Money: £196,058
Godolphin
Godolphin is the racing entity of Sheikh Mohammed and other members of the ruling Maktoum family of Dubai. Its aim is to win races worldwide. Godolphin horses benefit from Dubai's warm winter climate. The experiment began on a small scale in the winter of 1992, with horses enjoying the advantages of the Arabian sunshine before arriving in Britain for the 1993 season. The Godolphin operation was formally established in 1994, with Hilal Ibrahim as trainer, when Balanchine won the Investec Oaks and Irish Derby. The following year, Saeed bin Suroor was appointed as the official trainer. In 1999 and 2000, Godolphin's two-year-olds were housed at the former Evry racecourse in France under the care of David Loder, who in 2001 relocated to Godolphin Stables in Newmarket, although 2003 was his last year as Godolphin's juvenile handler and he has subsequently retired from training. Godolphin's British-based horses are handled by Saeed bin Suroor and Mahmood Al Zarooni, who started training in March, 2010, and enjoyed a first European Classic win with Frozen Power in the 2010 German 2000 Guineas. Andre Fabre trains for Godolphin in France while the US-based horses are overseen by Kiaran McLaughlin, Tom Albertrani and Eoin Harty. Godolphin's famous blue colours have been carried to victory in every British Classic bar the Investec Derby, although Saeed bin Suroor did train Lammtarra to win the premier Classic for Saeed Maktoum Al Maktoum in 1995 and Godolphin claims the success. The unbeaten Lammtarra also won the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp. Godolphin ambitions, other than landing the Investec Derby, include taking the American Triple Crown series, winning the Japan Cup and the Melbourne Cup. Daylami led an historic 1-2-3 in the 1998 Coral-Eclipse, the first time that the same owner and trainer had the first three in a British Group One, and Godolphin's tally of Group/Grade One wins stands at 194. Godolphin was leading British owner in 1996, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2004, 2006 and 2007 and captured an American Eclipse Award for top owner in 2009. Godolphin has won 14 British Classics: QIPCO 2,000 Guineas (1996 Mark Of Esteem, 1999 Island Sands), QIPCO 1,000 Guineas (1998 Cape Verdi, 2002 Kazzia, 2011 Blue Bunting), Investec Oaks (1994 Balanchine, 1995 Moonshell, 2002 Kazzia), Ladbrokes St Leger (1995 Classic Cliche, 1998 Nedawi, 1999 Mutafaweq, 2004 Rule Of Law, 2009 Mastery and 2012 Encke). Other major Group/Grade One wins include: Dubai World Cup (1999 Almutawakel, 2000 Dubai Millennium, 2002 Street Cry, 2003 Moon Ballad, 2006 Electrocutionist, 2012 Monterosso), Irish 2,000 Guineas (2000 Bachir, 2005 Dubawi), French 2,000 Guineas (2000 Bachir, 2005 Shamardal), Irish Derby (1994 Balanchine), Irish Oaks (2011 Blue Bunting), Breeders' Cup Turf (1999 Daylami, 2001 Fantastic Light), Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies' (2001 Tempera), Breeders' Cup Juvenile (2009 Vale Of York), King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes (1997 & 1998 Swain, 1999 Daylami, 2004 Doyen), Irish Champion Stakes (1994 Cezanne, 1998 Swain, 1999 Daylami, 2001 Fantastic Light, 2002 Grandera), Irish St Leger (1998, 1999 Kayf Tara), Arlington Million (2003 Sulamani - Godolphin's 100th G1 winner), Prix du Jockey Club (2005 Shamardal) and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (1995 Lammtarra, 2001 Sakhee and 2002 Marienbard).
No previous Dubai Dewhurst Stakes wins
Jim Bolger
Born in County Wexford on Christmas Day, 1941, James Stephen (Jim) Bolger was educated at Enniscorthy CBS and the College of Commerce, Rathmines. The farmer's son initially trained and worked as an accountant before taking out a licence to train in July, 1976. He was based at Clonsilla, Co Dublin, close to the now-defunct Phoenix Park racecourse before moving to his present base at Coolcullen, Co Carlow. His first winner was Peaceful Pleasure at Roscommon on September 20, 1976. He soon made an impact on the Irish scene, enjoying his first Classic victory with Give Thanks in the 1983 Irish Oaks. Over the years, Bolger has proved particularly successful with fillies, such as the 1981 Yorkshire Oaks heroine Condessa and Flame Of Tara, winner of the Coronation Stakes in 1983 and later a top-class broodmare, as well as Park Appeal, Polonia and Park Express, the dam of New Approach. He has also enjoyed success as a jump trainer and landed the Irish Champion Hurdle with Nordic Surprise in 1991 and with Chirkpar a year later. In 1991, Jet Ski Lady was a highly-impressive 10-length winner of the Oaks at Epsom Downs, belying her 50/1 odds, while St Jovite only found Dr Devious too good in the Derby the following year. St Jovite subsequently romped home in the Irish Derby by 12 lengths and the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot. Blue Judge was second in the 1993 Derby, despite starting at 150/1. In the past decade, his best horses have included the 2002 Irish Oaks heroine Margarula, who sported the colours of his wife Jackie and the globetrotting Alexander Goldrun who won five Group One races. A wonderful season in 2006 saw Bolger train both the top-rated juvenile colt and juvenile filly in Europe with Teofilo and Finsceal Beo. Injury prevented Teofilo from enhancing his reputation further but 2007 was another fantastic year for Bolger as Finsceal Beo completed a brilliant Newmarket/Irish 1000 Guineas double. Those Classic triumphs were complemented by the exploits of New Approach who emulated Teofilo to become the European champion juvenile colt, while the two-year-old filly Saoirse Abu landed a brace of Group One contests. In 2008, New Approach gave Bolger his greatest triumph when winning the Investec Derby and added the Champion Stakes at Newmarket at the end of the season. Jackie Bolger met her husband while he was working as an accountant and has always played a pivotal role in the stable, while the couple have also developed a highly successful breeding operation. Jim Bolger once remarked: "Jackie and I have always been very much a partnership - I think this business lends itself to that." The couple married on April 24, 1965, and have two daughters - Una (who is married to Kevin Manning) and Fiona. The trainer has a fantastic record in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket with Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007) and Intense Focus (2008) giving him three consecutive victories and Parish Hall (2011) adding a fourth success. Dawn Approach, the latest star, will try and provide a fifth Dubai Dewhurst Stakes win.
Previous Dubai Dewhurst Stakes wins: TEOFILO (2006), NEW APPROACH (2007), INTENSE FOCUS (2008), PARISH HALL (2011)
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