Dawn Approach makes up for his Derby demise

Dawn Approach (blue colours) holds off Toronado in the St James’s Palace Stakes. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

From hero to zero and back to hero again – that’s been the story of the brilliant Dawn Approach this season.

His victory in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas could not have been more impressive, but that was followed by a dismal last in the Investec Derby, spoiling his unbeaten record.

Just over two weeks later, he reappeared in the fourth Mile race in the QIPCO British Champions Series, the St James’s Palace Stakes, and made his class count.

Held up off the pace, he made his challenge in the straight but was barged into by Magician, reckoned to be his big rival in the race. In turn Dawn Approach knocked Toronado, an episode which did neither of them any favours.

Yet they were the two that came clear of their rivals, with Toronado briefly getting his head in front before Dawn Approach got back up to win by a short head under a great ride from Kevin Manning.

It was a very gutsy success by the best three-year-old miler in Europe and coming so soon after the Investec Derby, it was a particularly noteworthy achievement.

For Toronado it was also a case of redemption after his disappointing run when fourth in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas.

He had breathing problems on that occasion, but today he showed what a top class horse he is.

Mars stayed on for third while stable companion Magician came home in last place.

Manning said: "It was so disappointing in the Derby. It was a big blow to everybody.

"I’ve had three weeks to think about it, but I still don’t have the answer.

"Once I got my head in front and Richard (Hughes, on Toronado) was fighting me, he was always holding on.

"He’s a real battler. I wasn’t sure I’d won, but I thought he had.

"Today he got a little bit lit up coming down the hill as any horse might, but when I asked him to quicken up he felt like the same horse he’d been in the 2000 Guineas."

Victorious trainer Jim Bolger said: "I have to say I had a lot of encouragement from my staff to let him run again.

"They were anxious to get back into the fray.

"I sent a text to Simon Crisford [Godolphin’s racing manager], I told him he was in for a surprise and I think he read between the lines so that when I rang him the next day and told him I wanted to go to Ascot, he said he would talk to Sheikh Mohammed."

Sheikh Mohammed, whose Godolphin operation owns Dawn Approach, said: "Jim bred the horse and he knows the horse very well so we decided to run him.

"That proves to me he’s the best miler in the world."