Dawn Approach retired to stud
Multiple Group One-winning racehorse Dawn Approach has been retired and will now embark on a career at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland.
The 3-year-old son of New Approach made his racing swansong — finishing fourth to Olympic Glory in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes — at Ascot on Saturday (19 October).
Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said at Ascot: “The ground worked against him, which blunted his turn of foot. But he’s won 4 of the best races in the calendar so his record has been fantastic.
“He is now retiring to stud at Kildangan and we are very much looking forward to his progeny in the future.
“He has done Godolphin very proud — he has been a great racehorse for us. He’s been fantastic.”
Dawn Approach — who was bred and trained by Jim Bolger — was unbeaten in 6 races last season and was crowned the 2-year-old champion.
After defeating a high-class field to win the Coventry Stakes at Ascot (19 June 2012) a controlling share in the stallion was sold for an undisclosed sum to Sheikh Mohammed’s Godolphin racing organisation.
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Despite the sale to Godolphin it was decided that the Dawn Approach would stay in training with Bolger.
He went on to win the National Stakes, the 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes in the Godolphin colours.
Dawn Approach has led the way for the first crop of foal sired by New Approach. The stallion by Galileo won 4 Group One races including the Epsom Derby when Bolger trained him in 2008.
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.