New Approach on target for Irish Derby after Epsom success

Jim Bolger was basking in post-Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) glory on Sunday and confirmed Princess Haya

of

Jordan's NEW APPROACH (Galileo [Ire]) on course for the June 29 Irish

equivalent. While

adding the proviso that the half-length Epsom victor would not run on similar

ground to what

he encountered in the Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1), the Coolcullen-based conditioner is

setting his sights on the Curragh classic.

"The immediate target

is the Irish

Derby and we'll sit down and talk about plans after that," he explained. "He

wouldn't run

on firm ground."

Bolger paid further tribute to jockey Kevin Manning's winning

ride.

"It was the best Derby-winning ride I've seen -- it was brilliant," he

added. "I don't think

anybody could

have just stepped into the plate and won on him, as he takes a bit of knowing.

He'd been

dropped-in in the Dewhurst (Eng-G1), which worked, except for him taking a little time to

wake up, and

Kevin was fairly confident that he could do it that way. Obviously he had a Plan

B as well, but

he didn't have to use it."

Officials at Epsom racecourse expressed themselves delighted with the

latest Derby

Festival, which was highlighted by New Approach's win in Saturday's main event.

The paying crowd amounted to more than 38,000 while the total crowd was

near

100,000.

"As winning owner Princess Haya

said (Saturday),

the Derby is the greatest sporting event in the world," Managing Director Nick Blofeld

said. "(Saturday), we witnessed a

contest with

tremendous strength in depth and it was immensely satisfying to see all the

leading

contenders involved in the finish. The prestige of the Vodafone Derby has been

very much

confirmed."

"From a racing

perspective, the two days have gone well," Clerk of the Course and Director of

Racing Andrew Cooper added. "We've had no major injuries and the

track has

ridden extremely well and has been well received by all connections. We've had

beautiful

naturally produced ground, which you just can't beat. We've had to do nothing to

the course

for the past three weeks from an irrigation perspective. It's the third year

running we've had

that situation and it makes it significantly easier.

"To have the champion

two-year-old, who

was then placed second in two Guineas, come and win from what looked extremely

strong

horses, it just looks a very good race from a quality perspective."

Racing will not return to Epsom until April 2009 due to the track's

renovation program that includes a new hotel and main grandstand.