Unbeaten Dawn Approach Surges to Dewhurst Win

Dawn Approach remained unbeaten and solidified his credentials as Europe’s leading 2-year-old with a clear win in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Eng-I) Oct. 13 at Newmarket.

Entering the race with a flawless record of five victories from as many starts, including the Goffs Vincent O’Brien National Stakes (Ire-I) Sept. 15 at the Curragh, Dawn Approach bolstered his case as the top choice for next year’s classics with a convincing Dewhurst win.  Following the race, he was pegged as the 7-to-2 favorite for the 2013 Two Thousand Guineas (Eng-I) and the 10-to-1 market leader for the Investec Derby (Eng-I) with bookmaker Paddy Power.

Dawn Approach chased stablemate Leitir Mor, who set the early pace and threatened a strong front-running victory when the New Approach colt momentarily failed to lengthen stride about a quarter mile out when asked by Kevin Manning.  

But once fully engaged, Dawn Approach eagerly answered the challenge and sealed the victory in the matter of a few powerful strides. He grabbed the lead with 150 yards to run and surged clear to score by 2 3/4 lengths while geared down nearing the finish line. The seven furlongs was timed in 1:24 on turf rated as good to soft.

Leitir Mor, a 33-to-1 longshot though twice placed at the top level, hung on for second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place finisher George Vancouver, who was runner-up to Reckless Abandon in the Darley Prix Morny (Fr-I) in August at Deauville. Reckless Abandon won the Vision.ae Middle Park Stakes (Eng-I) earlier on the card.

Dawn Approach provided trainer Jim Bolger a fifth win in the Dewhurst in the past seven years after three consecutive wins with Teofilo (2006), New Approach (2007), and Intense Focus (2008). Bolger captured the race for a second straight time after taking last year’s edition with Parish Hall.

Dawn Approach is from the first crop of New Approach, who also captured the 2008 Vodafone Derby. New Approach stands at Sheikh Mohammed 's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket.

The winner was starting for the second time in the colors of Maktoum family’s Godolphin Racing, which was founded by Sheikh Mohammed. Dawn Approach won his first three starts in Ireland while racing as a homebred for Bolger and his wife, Jackie. He made his debut for Godolphin in the Vincent O’Brien National following a win over subsequent French group I winner Olympic Glory at Royal Ascot in the Coventry Stakes (Eng-II).

Irish-bred Dawn Approach, who will remain with Bolger and be prepared for the Two Thousand Guineas next season, was produced by the Phone Trick mare Hymn of the Dawn.