Classics await Bolger ace
Jim Bolger has the 2000 Guineas and Derby in his sights with New Approach after the brilliant colt maintained his unbeaten record in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The imposing juvenile has now won all five starts this term and sealed his position as champion two-year-old when seeing off Fast Company by half a length, despite racing lazily under Kevin Manning.
The pair were two and a half lengths clear of Raven’s Pass, but Godolphin’s Rio De La Plata failed to land a telling blow and was well-beaten in fourth.
Bookmakers were impressed with his success and William Hill are now as short as 7-4 for next year’s opening colts’ Classic, while Coral, Ladbrokes and totesport are 2-1 and Stan James a standout 100-30.
Bolger said: “This fellow is a machine and he shouldn’t have any difficulty staying a mile and a half.
“We overdid the settling on him as I have had Derbys in mind for the last couple of weeks.
“We hadn’t really decided on the Dewhurst until about 10 days ago and at that stage we had him lobbing and settling, so I decided not to rev him and we didn’t do any fast work, except for a half-speed the other day – which was scintillating.”
As with last year’s winner of the race, Teofilo, Bolger has made no secret of the regard in which he holds the winner but, unlike Teofilo, a Triple Crown plan is not a given.
Bolger added: “I would have to discuss the Triple Crown with Sheikh Mohammed and John Ferguson.
“When I said it about Teofilo we were calling the shots ourselves, but this horse is owned in partnership with Sheikh Mohammed so it would only be correct for me to discuss it with him before making a decision.”
Manning said: “There is no doubt he will be better next year. He is a big horse and is improving all of the time and you will see a much better horse when he is stepped up to the Guineas and Derby trip.”
Sheikh Mohammed also has an interest in Fast Company having purchased him for one of his sons earlier in the season.
The colt is now second-favourite for the Guineas, with Coral quoting him at 6-1.
Trainer Brian Meehan said: “He looks to me like a serious 2000 Guineas contender and it has been a pleasure to have him.”
John Gosden’s Raven’s Pass lost his unbeaten record in third, but his trainer had expressed reservations about the ground after 35 millimetres of rain fell during the week.
Gosden said: “I was pleased with his run. He came to win his race but he couldn’t produce his form on the ground.
“Jimmy (Fortune) said he was the last one off the bridle but he just can’t go on that ground.
“He’s a Guineas horse and that will be the target next year.”
