Bolger eyes Dewhurst repeat
Friday 12 October 2012
Jim Bolger is a very short price to clinch his fifth Dubai Dewhurst Stakes in seven years at Newmarket as his smart colt Dawn Approach puts his unbeaten record on the line.
Two of the trainer's winners became champion two-year-old - Teofilo and Dawn Approach's sire New Approach - and that accolade could be heading back to Coolcullen again with another good performance.
Bolger also saddles the experienced Leitir Mor, who acted as a lead horse for Dawn Approach in a serious piece of work last week and is not expected to trouble the Godolphin-owned odds-on favourite.
The chestnut had a busy early-season campaign, with his fourth start being in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, and he returned from a break to land his first Group One in the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh.
"Jim has been very happy with the horse and he's going to be a big runner for us this weekend," said Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford.
"The only thing we wouldn't want is the ground to be too heavy, so hopefully it's not going to keep raining in Newmarket."
Bolger added: "I'm sure he has improved since the Curragh. I was a little concerned about the going (there) - it was on the soft side - and he hadn't run since June. I wasn't certain I had him at his peak.
"As it happened, he seemed to do it very easily. He came out of the race very well and was very fresh two days later. I think he only dropped a couple of kilos and he had it back on within three days.
"He is able to quicken up when the need arises in his races and loves his racing.
"I've been very fortunate in having four horses that could win the Dewhurst - hopefully this fellow will be the fifth."
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