Dawn Approach and Toronado set for scintillating rematch

Dawn Approach (left) holds Toronado by a short-head at Royal Ascot – their third clash awaits at Glorious Goodwood. Image courtesy of racingfotos.com.

A riveting third clash between Dawn Approach and Toronado, the top two European three-year-old milers, remains likely in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday 31 July, race five in the Mile division of the QIPCO British Champions Series.

Dawn Approach, trained in Ireland by Jim Bolger for Godolphin, had Toronado seven and a half lengths back in fourth when the impressive winner of the first Series race, the QIPCO 2000 Guineas at Newmarket, over a mile on 4 May.

There were excuses put forward that day for the Richard Hannon-trained Toronado, however, who had breathing difficulties during the race.

After everything went wrong in the 12-furlong Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on 1 June, Dawn Approach returned to a mile in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot and had a short-head to spare over Toronado in a thrilling finish after both colts overcame interference.

Toronado will be trying to make it third time lucky in the £300,000 QIPCO Sussex Stakes, Goodwood’s top race of the year, which has 26 potential contenders still engaged.

Frankel, the highest-rated horse anybody has seen, won the most recent two runnings of the QIPCO Sussex Stakes in tremendous style, without being troubled by rivals. Can Dawn Approach or Toronado do the same? 

Toronado’s owner also has stable companion Olympic Glory, three quarters of a length second to Dawn Approach in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot last year, with the other Richard Hannon entries being Trumpet Major and Havana Gold, the latter successful in the Group 1 Prix Jean Prat at Chantilly last time out.

Ireland’s champion trainer Aidan O’Brien is responsible for six entries, led by Declaration Of War, winner of the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and second to Al Kazeem in the Coral-Eclipse Stakes at Sandown Park when stepping up to 10 furlongs. He could give the two star three-year-olds something to think about.

O’Brien’s other possibles include the 2012 Group 1 St James’s Palace Stakes victor, Most Improved, and the 2013 St James’s Palace third, Mars.

Just The Judge, successful in the Irish 1,000 Guineas, and the consistent six year-old Red Jazz could represent trainer Charlie Hills.

Other possibles include Roger Varian’s Aljamaaheer, who won Ascot’s Group 2 Summer Mile on Saturday, and the John Gosden-trained Elusive Kate, who won the Etihad Airways Falmouth Stakes last Friday.

It promises to be a spectacular race in the beautiful atmosphere and surroundings of Glorious Goodwood which starts on Tuesday 30 July and concludes on Saturday 3 August.