The Dawn Approach – Toronado Decider is still on!

Dawn Approach destroys his field in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas back in May. Image copyright of Laurence Squire

After returning a dirty scope following his run in Sunday’s Prix Jacques le Marois, Dawn Appoach is apparently still very much still on course for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot on Saturday 19 October.

Jim Bolger’s star three-year-old was making a quick reappearance at Deauville after having gone down only narrowly to old foe Toronado in the QIPCO Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood, but could only finish a lacklustre fifth and returned a dirty scope subsequently. 

Bolger told Irish Horse Racing TV: "He’s a bit under the weather, which has been well publicised, but he should be all right in about two weeks. We should have plenty of time to get him ready for October and the QEII is most definitely on the agenda. If he meets Toronado (in the QEII) it can’t be worse then 2-2 now!

"He won’t run in the Irish Champion Stakes, that’s for Trading Leather. He’s very well after Ascot and runs at York next week [in the International] before coming back for Leopardstown. He’s possibly the best staying three-year-old around."

Toronado may have exacted revenge on Dawn Approach at Goodwood, but it’s the Godolphin-owned colt who still leads the head-to-head by two wins to one, following his victories in the QIPCO 2000 Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes. If you would like to be there on QIPCO British Champions Day on Saturday 19 October to witness the ‘Decider’, you can purchase tickets from the Ascot Racecourse website.