Godolphin acquire to boost Classics chances

Godolphin have strengthened their hand for next year’s English Classics by acquiring a major share in the unbeaten Dawn Approach, the ante-post favourite for the Qipco 2,000 Guineas. Trained by Jim Bolger, the two-year-old son of Epsom Derby winner Right Approach scored a fourth victory in as many outings when successful in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Ascot earlier in June. Under the sale agreement, the unbeaten colt, who was previously owned by Bolger’s wife Jackie, will remain with the Irish great until the end of the season before a decision is made on his future plans. Dawn Approach is quoted at odds of 12/1 to win the Newmarket showpiece and give Godolphin a long-awaited third success in the race after Island Sands in 1999 and Mark of Esteem in 1996. Commenting on the Godolphin website, Racing Manager Simon Crisford said: “We are delighted Dawn Approach will race for Godolphin and look forward to seeing him run at the highest level throughout his career. “It is fantastic how well New Approach has started his stallion career and Dawn Approach appears to have inherited many of his qualities.” Dawn Approach was the first offspring of New Approach to be seen in action when winning his maiden at The Curragh in March. New Approach spends the first part of the year as a stallion at Dalham Hall Stud at Newmarket before he is shuttled to the Northwood Park Stud Farm in Victoria for the southern hemisphere breeding season. Horses sired by him in his first season at stud won three of the major races for two-year-olds at Royal Ascot including Newfangled in the Albany Stakes and Tha’Ir in the Chesham Stakes. Dalham Hall was founded in 1981 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai and is part of his Darley Stud thoroughbred breeding operation. The Godolphin website stated that Dawn Approach will be aimed at the top two-year-old races during the year including the Group One Goffs Vincent O’Brien Stakes at the Curragh on September 15 and the Group One Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on October 13. He will race in Godolphin’s famous royal blue colours. New Approach was trained by Jim Bolger, 71, to win the English blue riband in 2008 for Princess Haya Bint Al Hussain, wife of Shaikh Mohammad. Following Dawn Approach’s Royal Ascot victory Bolger was full of praise for the colt and told BBC television: “He has everything. He has pace, stamina, looks, temperament — there’s no holes in this fella. I don’t see him going beyond a mile and I don’t want him going beyond a mile; that’ll do me. “I’ll probably give him a little break and then maybe the Futurity and the National Stakes. If I can find a space then maybe the Dewhurst and there’s maybe Longchamp. He’ll have three more runs.”