Dawn Approach storms to Dubai Dewhurst victory

Dubai: Veteran Irish handler Jim Bolger received a massive vote of confidence from one of the most powerful men in flat racing after saddling star colt Dawn Approach to win the Group 1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

Bolger, who trains the exciting two-year-old for the Godolphin stable, was assured by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, that the horse would remain with the County Carlow-handler and not be transferred to Godolphin, as was widely speculated.

Responding to a query by Racing UK presenter Mike Cattermole, Shaikh Mohammad confirmed that Bolger would continue to train Dawn Approach who is the 7-2 ante-post favourite for next season’s English 2000 Guineas.

“It was a great day today, we’re very happy with his performance. I was impressed with him when he won his maiden and I thought he was a good horse — we were lucky. Good horses keep finding something and that’s what he did,” said Shaikh Mohammad after watching Dawn Approach coast to three-quarter length victory over stable companion Leitr Mor despite giving his connections an anxious moment two furlongs out.

Asked if the son of New Approach was a Derby horse Shaikh Mohammad replied: “Well I think he’s a mile or a mile and quarter horse, but the trainer should know better.”

The winner was recording his second Group 1 victory and sixth on the bounce, while providing Bolger with a fifth Dewhurst success.

The trainer also won the event in 2007 with New Approach, the sire of Dawn Approach.

The Dewhurst provides an important assessment of the trends for the follow season’s Classics with six horses having progressed to win the Guineas, while eight, including New Approach, have captured the Derby.

Earlier in the afternoon, Reckless Abandon stretched his record to six-from-six when he found a second wind to land a well-contested renewal of the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes (G1).

Clive Cox’s juvenile, a winner of the Group 1 Prix Morny at Deauville in August in France, fought out the finish with the Marco Botti-trained Moohaajim, and seemed to have the little extra something as he lunged on the line to score by a neck.

Moohaajim, racing in the colours of Shaikh Mohammad Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, ran a huge race in defeat and will definitely come on for the effort.

French jockey Gerald Mosse who was on board Reckless Abandon for the third time said: “We got a chance to get to the lead without too much pressure. He picked up quite well at the two furlong pole and he kept fighting. When I pressed him a bit hard, he answered me.

“Today he was lovely.”

Cox added: “I’m just delighted for everyone involved — it’s just a fantastic day. He’s very talented.”

Mark Johnston’s Fulbright notched his sixth victory of the season when winning the opening Group 2 Dubai Challenge Stakes.

The son of Exceed And Excel, who races in the green colours of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, chased down long-time front runner and 2010 winner Red Jazz to score by a tidy neck under Joe Fanning.

Arnold Lane was three lengths back in third while the 4-1 joint-favourites Fenching (William Buick) and Godolphin’s Scarf (Frankie Dettori) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

Winning jockey Joe Fanning said: “He’s been a good little horse this year — he’s had a hard year.

“He’s tough.”