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This weekend’s Epsom Derby for colts is the second classic of the English flat season. Run over 2400m, past winners of this prestigious race include some of the sports highest rated horses in Sea Bird, Mill Reef, Nijinsky and Sea the Stars.
This years renewal includes a potential equine superstar in Dawn Approach, however there are stamina concerns due to the breeding on his dams side.
His dam, Hymn of the Dawn, is out of high class American sprinter Phone Trick, who is also a sire of sprinters.
Of course Dawn Approach’s own sire is former Derby winner New Approach however the speed he showed in last months English 2000 Guineas victory and his dams breeding justifies concern regarding him staying the distance.
His trainer Jim Bolger believes the class of the horse and a temperament that will allow him to settle in the early stages of the race will help him to see out the trip.
Expect rival trainer and former Jim Bolger protégé Aidan O’Brien to take note of this.
I expect him to set fast pace in the early stages with a pacemaker in an effort to burn off Dawn Approach.
Of O’Brien’s runners Battle Of Marengo seems to be the one cause Dawn Approach most concern.
He won the Derrinstown Stud Derby Trial on his last start in workman-like fashion on yielding ground, the Derrinstown has been a good pointer for the Derby in recent years.
Another of O’Brien’s runners Ruler Of The World won the Group 3 Chester Vase in his last run and should be up there in this.
Andre Fabre has bypassed the Prix de Jockey Club ( French Derby) this Sunday and has chosen the Epsom version instead with Ocovango, he’s another who should give a good account of himself.
Whatever the outcome of this race I believe this will be Dawns Approach’s one and only run at 2400m. I think that godolphin, who own a majority share in the horse are the main motivation behind this horse running the Derby, they have never won it before.
I believe that Jim Bolger was brought reluctantly on board. Despite all this he’s by far the classiest horse in the race and this should get him through.
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