Gongs a first southern hemisphere winner for Dawn Approach

First-season sire Dawn Approach was represented by his first winner in Australia on Wednesday when the James Cummings-trained Gongs was an impressive scorer on debut at Canterbury.

The filly, who had come into the race after a barrier trial win, took the lead from the start and left her rivals for dust to record a runaway five and a half length success.

A homebred for Godolphin, Gongs is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mesa and is the fifth winner from as many foals out of the Listed-winning Bel Esprit mare Belcentra.

Kildangan Stud resident Dawn Approach has supplied 13 winners from his first northern hemisphere crop including the Group-placed performers Mary Tudor, Fast Approach and Dawn Delivers.

The 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace Stakes scorer will stand the 2018 breeding season at a fee of €20,000, down from €30,000 this year.

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