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Dawn Approach rebounds in roughly-run St James's Palace
Dawn Approach is trained by his breeder, Jim Bolger, and is part-owned by him and Sheikh Mohammed's Godolphin operation. Asked if he was surprised when Bolger announced he wanted to run the chestnut colt in today's race so soon after Epsom, Sheikh Mohammed said, "Yes, but Jim bred the horse and knows him very well, so when he said he wanted to run the owner was happy to support him. The biggest risk is not taking any risk. Today has proved to me that this horse is the best miler in the world." Bolger said, "It's the nature of the sport to take chances and sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. Sheikh Mohammed was a very willing risk taker and I'm delighted he was." A stewards' inquiry looked into an incident between the two- and one-furlong marker when several horses were knocked sideways, including the first two, and Bolger said, "He was fortunate to survive that, but he did and the rest is history. He's very tough and hardy. I'm very happy, and relief plays a part in it, but I knew he wouldn't let me down." Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, reacted to Dawn Approach's gutsy win over Toronado. "It is fantastic. Jim (Bolger) called every shot there and got it absolutely right. It was a magnificent call on his part because it is the big race of the week," Crisford said. "It was a high-risk strategy and he pulled it off. "Dawn Approach has achieved a phenomenal amount as a racehorse -- an unbeaten champion two-year-old, a Guineas win and success in the St James's Palace Stakes. He is now destined for great things ahead at stud. I hear he got a hefty bump and knew that the stewards' inquiry did not involve him. "I am sure we will stick to this trip with Dawn Approach and we will look at the championship mile races around Europe and farther afield." "When I pulled him out, I have gone there with plenty of horse but received a serious knock from the inside," jockey Kevin Manning said. "There was then some contact with the horse on the outside. I thought I had everything very much covered when I pulled him out. He got to the front and was not headed all the way to the line. He is a very gutsy and determined horse." Toronado had to settle for second place after Dawn Approach was announced the short-head victor. This was after interference inside the last two furlongs when Glory Awaits drifted to the stands side forcing Magician, Mars, Dawn Approach and Toronado wide. Richard Hannon, who trains the High Chaparral colt, commented afterwards, "That's racing. At least he's back! He's a very good horse. "It was a shame really that there was that interference otherwise I think we would have got it. The winner went on to us and knocked us into the middle of the track. I don't think it was the winner's fault he got a knock and it concertinaed onto us." Toronado is entered for the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown on July 6 and the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood July 31, as is Dawn Approach, and Hannon added all options are open. Bet Horseracing Free Online at TwinSpires.com
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