Derby woe forgotten as Dawn Approach triumphs

The last-gasp victory, just 17 days after the 2000 Guineas winner finished last in the Derby, came as Irish-trained runners monopolised Royal Ascot’s opening day by winning the first four races.

It saw Godolphin figurehead Sheikh Mohammed, who co-owns Dawn Approach with Bolger, hail the horse “as the best miler in the world” while the trainer said he had had no qualms about running the colt – and risking his future value at stud – if he had been beaten in a messy race which saw the main pretenders all suffer interference.

“That’s the nature of the sport –you take chances and sometimes they work and other times they don’t. Sheikh Mohammed was a willing risk taker,” said Bolger, whose boldness in running Dawn Approach had surprised many after he had initially ruled out a tilt at Royal Ascot glory in the aftermath of the Derby.

“He was fortunate to survive the bump he got. He did and the rest is history. He’s very tough and very hardy. I feel very happy. I knew he wouldn’t let me down.

“I texted Simon Crisford (Godolphin’s racing manager) saying be prepared for a shock running Dawn Approach at Ascot.

“I felt he would be up for it. Simon spoke to his Highness (Sheikh Mohammed) and said he would be very happy to go along to Ascot.

“I always had faith in the horse and I knew what happened at Epsom was a one-off. We will have to sit down and talk about things, but I’m not going to make any predictions at this stage – everything is open to consideration.”

Bolger was then interrupted by Dubai’s ruler who suggested: “The greatest risk is taking no risk.”

The nature of the race changed dramatically in the home straight when North Yorkshire trainer Kevin Ryan’s Glory Awaits drifted violently to the left and hindered Irish Guineas winner Magician, Dawn Approach and the highly-rated Toronado in a domino effect.

Once these champion three-year-olds had regained their balance, Toronado appeared to head the field under champion jockey Richard Hughes before Dawn Approach – who had not settled in the early stages of the race – showed the battling qualities that saw him win his first seven starts, including the 2000 Guineas, before the Derby.

Dawn Approach had come to prominence on this day 12 months ago when winning the six-furlong Coventry Stakes and yesterday’s victor War Command produced an electrifying performance that had the hallmarks of a future champion.

Even though he was reputedly Aidan O’Brien’s third string, the margin of the six-length victory over the Richard Fahey-trained Parbold for Yorkshire suggested that War Command will be progressing to Group One level in the near future.

As for Malton-based Fahey, he was philosophical. “We thought we might have found another two or three lengths with a better run, but we wouldn’t have beaten the winner,” he said.

Ireland’s day of domination began with the opening Queen Anne Stakes when O’Brien’s Declaration Of War showed brilliant acceleration under the trainer’s son Joseph to win a race won by the peerless Frankel last year.

The big disappointment was America’s former Kentucky Derby winner Animal Kingdom who never settled – he was clearly unsuited by the straight mile in contrast to the oval tracks of the USA – and trailed home in 11th place, finishing ahead of just two horses.

Sole Power edged out South African raider Shea Shea to claim a deserved victory in a thrilling climax to the King’s Stand Stakes – with David Barron’s Pearl Secret making good headway to finish third for the Thirsk handler.

Edward Lynam’s stable star has been knocking at the door in Group One sprints ever since winning his 100-1 shock victory in the Nunthorpe at York three years ago and had finished an excellent third in last year’s King’s Stand.

The width of the Berkshire racecourse separated Sole Power and Shea Shea as they passed the winning post, but victorious jockey Johnny Murtagh was always confident that the photo finish would come down in his favour.

“Forty winners at Royal Ascot, I’m really proud of it,” said Murtagh, who made it winner 41 when Extortionist won the closing Windsor Castle Stakes for Surrey trainer Olly Stevens.

The first English-trained winner had ironically come courtesy of two National Hunt legends born in Ireland when Well Sharp landed the Ascot Stakes for former Grand National-winning trainer Jonjo O’Neill and his primary owner JP McManus. This is a horse that was landing the Best Dressed Lady Novices’ Hurdle at Wetherby in May 2012 under the record-breaking AP McCoy.

With Fran Berry in the saddle, he had enough in hand to deny Tiger Cliff who is now trained by Lady Jane Cecil following the death of her husband Sir Henry a week ago.

Poignantly, the day began with Royal Ascot falling silent for a minute as the Queen led racegoers in paying tribute to Sir Henry who had won a record 75 races at the meeting during a distinguished 40-year career.

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