Godolphin seek solace in Dawn Approach

Sheikh Mohammed and his wife, Princess Haya of Jordan. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

Last week it was bad as it could possibly be for Godolphin, Sheikh Mohammed’s racing operation, but this week could bring solace in the shape of the hot QIPCO 2000 Guineas favourite, Dawn Approach.

Trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger and free of the issues that have cast a shadow over Godolphin’s Newmarket base, Dawn Approach is unbeaten in six starts.

He was bought by Sheikh Mohammed last summer, before the final two races of his two-year-old season, and jockey, Kevin Manning, wears Godolphin’s now famous blue silks.

With Frankel now retired, Dawn Approach is seen by some as the new star that racing craves.

Both were unbeaten at two and both won the world’s top-rated juvenile race, Newmarket’s Dubai Dewhurst Stakes, on their final juvenile start.

When Dawn Approach lines up on Saturday for the opening race in the 2013 QIPCO British Champions Series, which showcases the best horseracing in the world, he will be looking to win the £400,000 contest just as Frankel did two years ago.

Dawn Approach has certainly been pleasing his trainer, who also trained his sire, New Approach, to win the Investec Derby in 2008.

Bolger said last week: "I would be happy with his development – he is a much stronger horse this year. He’s on a par with the best horses I’ve had at home.”

Dawn Approach won’t have it all his own way with the unbeaten Toronado in the line-up, who looked deeply impressive for trainer Richard Hannon when he won the Novae Bloodstock Insurance Craven Stakes two weeks ago over the Guineas course and distance.

Aidan O’Brien, who has already won the QIPCO 2000 Guineas on six occasions, including last year with Camelot, has three challengers with smart form to their names.

Dawn Approach is certainly the one to beat based on last season’s form, however, and Godolphin will be looking to him to bring a ray of sunshine into their current gloomy situation.

The eyes of the racing world will be focused on Newmarket at 3.50pm on Saturday for the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and again the following day when Sir Henry Cecil will unleash his unbeaten Hot Snap on the QIPCO 1000 Guineas, race two in the 2013 QIPCO British Champions Series.