Dawn Approach: takes his unbeaten record to six in the Dewhurst Stakes
PICTURE: Martin Lynch (racingpost.com/photos)Dawn Approach eclipses Dewhurst Stakes rivals
Report: Newmarket, Saturday
Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1) 7f, 2yo
DAWN APPROACH maintained his unbeaten record in decisive fashion when he recorded his second Group 1 victory under Kevin Manning at Newmarket on Saturday.
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The Royal Ascot winner, who landed the Goffs Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh last month, is now 7-2 favourite (from 5f) with Paddy Power for next year's Qipco 2,000 Guineas. He is also 10-1 market leader (from 14) for the Investec Derby with the same firm.
The star juvenile, running in the colours of Godolphin for the second time in his six-race career, provided Jim Bolger with an incredible fifth winner in the race in the past seven years.
The trainer, who won this race with 20-1 chance Parish Hall last season, also took the event with New Approach, the sire of Dawn Approach, in 2007.
The race has had significant bearing on the following year's Classics with Dewhurst winners Sir Percy, New Approach and Frankel going on to taste victory in the 2,000 Guineas and/or the Derby.
Jim Bolger: landed fifth Dewhurst in seven years with Dawn Approach
PICTURE: Mark CranhamSupporters of the 30-100 favourite would have been worried with two furlongs to run as Dawn Approach's stablemate Leitir Mor showed no signs of stopping in front.
However, once Manning asked for maximum effort, the winner stayed on powerfully to score convincingly. He ran on strongly to score by two and three-quarter lengths from 33-1 runner-up Leitir Mor.
Manning said: "We have been very fortunate over the last few years to have such good two-year-olds and he is another one. It was a proper-run race and, two down, he always hits his flat spot for a couple of strides until he hits top gear. I knew there was plenty there."
The result capped another memorable result for Bolger in the race he has made his own in recent years.
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