Irish two-year-old Dawn Approach, by New Approach, the champion close relation to Lynward Park’s Alfred Nobel, has earned rare praise after his resounding win in the Group 2 Coventry Stakes (six furlongs) at the opening of this year’s Royal Ascot meeting.
Dawn Approach is now unbeaten in four starts and is a clear favourite for next year’s Group 1 English Two Thousand Guineas.
Trainer Jim Bolger, who prepared New Approach to win the Group 1 English Derby, Irish Champion Stakes, English Champion Stakes, National Stakes and Dewhurst Stakes, and be judged the best 2Y0 and 3Y0 in Europe, immediately declared Dawn Approach: “As good as I’ve had.”
“He has everything,” said Bolger. “He has pace, he has stamina, he has looks and he has the temperament.
“There are no holes in this fellow.
“I don’t see him going beyond a mile and I don’t want him to go beyond a mile. That will do me.
“I’ll probably give him a little break. He’s a very gross horse who eats very well so the break won’t be too long.
“The Futurity Stakes and the National Stakes are options. Then there’s the Dewhurst Stakes and big races in France.
“We have plenty to choose from.”
Jockey Kevin Manning was just as generous in his praise of Dawn Approach.
“I tucked him in on the heels of the leaders,” said Manning. “He found top gear in the final furlong and it was all over.
Six furlongs is his minimum. When he steps up to seven furlongs you will see a real horse.
“He’s got the right attitude for the Guineas. He’s got a great cruising gear and he’s got a great turn of foot. The ground is not an issue. He ticks all the boxes.”
Alfred Nobel’s grand dam, Dazzling Park, the 1999 European champion 3Y0 filly, is a half-sister to New Approach.
. There was further family success in England when Set To Music, by Alfred Nobel’s sire Danehill Dancer, won the 10-furlong Warwickshire Oaks.