Dawn ready for Curragh return
Friday 14 September 2012
Ante-post 2000 Guineas favourite Dawn Approach makes his eagerly anticipated return to competitive action in the Goffs Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow.
The son of New Approach was last seen winning for the fourth time in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in mid-June and has missed possible engagements in the Phoenix Stakes and the Futurity Stakes in August due to unsuitable ground conditions.
He faces seven opponents for his Group One debut this weekend, including three runners from the Aidan O'Brien stable in a race registered as the National Stakes. Of that that trio, the best is seemingly Cristoforo Colombo, who was just a length behind Dawn Approach when third at the Royal meeting.
Bolger said: "He's ready to run. All the two-year-old races in Ireland are competitive and this is no exception." Asked if ground conditions would be suitable, he added: "We hope so."
The trainer also saddles Leitir Mor, who won the Group Three Round Tower Stakes last weekend and was second in the Phoenix Stakes earlier in the year. Bolger said: "He'll be ensuring there is a decent pace."
Since his excellent effort at Ascot, Cristoforo Colombo has finished second in the Railway Stakes in very testing conditions and then slipped up when still travelling well in the Phoenix.
O'Brien: "He came down at the Curragh and he did come back with a bad cut behind, but he's OK now."
The master of Ballydoyle also saddles Leopardstown maiden winner Nevis as well as Futurity runner-up Flying The Flag.
Pat Flynn's Designs On Rome is the rank outsider, but the trainer believes his youngster can outrun his huge odds.
Flynn said: "He is a horse we like a lot. We really hold him in the highest regard and I can see him running a very big race. I don't mind him being the outsider, all I know is that I rate him very highly and he'll go on any ground. We're looking forward to seeing him run."
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