Horse racing: Dawn Approach is chip off old block

NEW Approach got his stallion career off to the ideal start as his first son, Dawn Approach, made a winning debut in the Tally Ho Stud European Breeders Fund Maiden at the Curragh.

Trainer Jim Bolger expertly handled New Approach to win five Group Ones, including the Derby, during his two-year racing career and it would be a brave man who bets against him being just as successful at stud following this excellent start.

Bolger would no doubt have been keen that his one-time stable star’s first progeny to grace the racecourse was successful and it was no great surprise to see Dawn Approach sent off the even-money favourite.

Although his father was a high-class middle-distance performer, the youngster was making his introduction over five furlongs and showed a good deal of dash from the stalls.

Kevin Manning positioned his mount close to the pace in the early stages and the two-year-old quickened impressively to put the race to bed, scoring by a length and three-quarters from Canary Row.

Bolger said: “I was hoping he would win it, but you never know what is in these races.

“He is a very laid-back colt, a bit different to his old man (New Approach). He will improve a lot and when he goes up in trip. I wouldn’t be getting carried away with him. Hopefully we will be back here in September with him (for the National Stakes).”

On his two-year-old team for the season, Bolger said: “I have a few good lookers and about a dozen New Approaches.”

John Oxx’s Sharestan looks sure to go on to bigger and better things after impressing in the www.thetote.com Irish Lincolnshire.

The 3-1 favourite was thrown in against experienced handicappers on just his third career start, but his class shone through under Johnny Murtagh as he mastered Ansaab by two and three-quarter lengths.

Oxx said: “He will be stepped up to Listed class next and will go for the Heritage Stakes at Leopardstown in three weeks. He is still inexperienced and a bit green. It’s hard to know his best trip until he sharpens up.

“He goes on soft ground but it remains to be seen whether he goes on better ground. He has a bit of talent and hopefully we will see it this season.”

Chrysanthemum claimed Group Three honours for David Wachman in the Lodge Park Stud European Breeders Fund Park Express Stakes.

The 8-1 chance had mixed it at the very highest level during last season and was fitted with blinkers for this return to action.

Wayne Lordan eased the filly to the front soon after passing the two-furlong marker and she then proved a tough nut to crack, holding off Classic entrant Twirl by a length and a half.

Wachman said: “She did it well and she likes an ease in the ground. The blinkers helped her.

“She was third in a Group One here last year, so she’s entitled to win a race like that.

“When she goes up in trip she might be a little better. A mile would be the bottom end of where she’d want to be.

“She will go for any of those Group races as long as the ground is not too firm.”

Wachman and Lordan combined for further success with Amira’s Prince (14-1) in the Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders’ Fund Maiden, while the jockey enjoyed a hat-trick having also struck gold on Willie McCreery’s 7-2 shot Coolnagree in the Gabriel Curran Memorial Madrid Handicap.

Redoutable (9-1) ran away with the Elusive Pimpernel Maiden for Chris Hayes and Kevin Prendergast.

Prendergast said: “She had been working well and was the highest-rated horse in the race.

“I was a bit sceptical about her draw (stall two). She will probably go for a winners of one now or might run in one of the fillies’ trial races.”

Croisultan defied top-weight on his debut for Dermot Weld in the Irish Field Handicap.

Pat Smullen had the 5-1 chance well covered up and towards the rear until the halfway stage, but he responded to strong driving in the latter stages to get up close home and deny market leader Maarek by a neck.

Weld said: “He will run next in the Cork Stakes (7 April) provided the ground is not firm.”