2006 result

racing_news/

New Approach is ‘A Machine’
20/10/07

1st 9 New Approach 6/4 FAV
2nd 3 Fast Company 14/1
3rd 10 Raven's Pass 3/1

Jim Bolger, who was winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes for the second year running following Teofilo’s success last year, was far from despondent about the workmanlike manner of winner New Approach, who held off Fast Company by half a length.

The Irish trainer said: “New Approach is very talented, tough and hardy. We overdid the settling today and that nearly cost us the race, but we know how to solve that problem for the Guineas. I was never really worried.

“We overdid it because we have had Derbys in mind in the last two weeks. We have been making the running with him and we wanted to get him to settle. It was only 10 days ago that we decided to go for the Dewhurst. Since then he’s done no fast work except a half speed which was a scintillating bit of work.

“That was the reason for his tardiness and this was only a half speed for him and he was asleep most of the way - we have the complete formula now. We thought that settling him would be a problem but it turned out to be a walk in the park.

“We ponied him to the start today because he went a bit free to the start before we introduced a pony. It worked a dream last time when we ponied him before the National Stakes in Ireland.

“The ground was a bit holding but this fellah is a machine. He shouldn’t have any difficulty staying a mile and a half.”

Totesport, Cashmans and Paddy Power all cut the winner to 2-1 for next year’s Stan James 2000 Guineas, from 5/2, 4/1 and 7/2 respectively, while the sponsor of the first British classic was less impressed, leaving the Galileo colt unchanged at 100/30.

FIRST FOUR JOCKEYS AFTER THE DARLEY DEWHURST

Kevin Manning, on the unbeaten winner New Approach, said: “He did it very well. He stayed well and has plenty of class.

“I don’t like going from year to year. Teofilo and New Approach are two very good horses and have done everything they have been asked.”

Ted Durcan, who partnered the second Fast Company, declared: “He has run very well. There are no excuses. He will be a lovely horse next year. He was the second most inexperienced horse in the race.

“I though we going to go pass the winner 100 yards out but the other horse picked up again.”

Jimmy Fortune, on the third Raven’s Pass, commented: “He absolutely hated the ground.

“He was the winner two out - you can never really tell how they will go on soft ground until you start getting serious.

“Raven’s Pass just could not pick up on this ground - he is fast ground horse.”

Frankie Dettori, partner of the fourth Rio De La Plata, said: “It may have been a race too many.

“He came there to win but just emptied out. The ground is not ideal but his win in France two weeks ago may have just taken the edge off him.”

KEVIN MANNING

Kevin Manning was found guilty of improper riding by the stewards in that he used his whip with excessive frequency on New Approach, who won the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. The Irishman was suspended for five days from Wednesday, October 31 to Sunday, November 4.

PROGRESSIVE COMPANY NOT QUITE FAST ENOUGH

14/1 shot Fast Company, who was bought by Sheikh Mohammed for one of his sons earlier this season, battled winner New Approach all the way to the line to be beaten only half a length in a thrilling finish.

The colt’s trainer Brian Meehan said: “Maybe a little bit of lack of experience told going into the dip. They want him for next year anyway and the horse is obviously progressive, as I’ve said all along, and I think he’s perfectly set up for the new programme.

“He looks to me like a serious 2000 Guineas contender. If he’s not in the first two betting-wise after that then I’ll be very surprised. It’s been an absolute pleasure to have him.”

Fears over rain-softened ground proved justified for second-favourite Raven’s Pass, according to trainer John Gosden. The colt finished a further two and a half lengths back in third.

Gosden said: “Jimmy (Fortune) said he was the last one off the bridle but he just can’t go in that ground.

“He said he hated it but the horse has run a blinder. He’s got a ton of speed and he sees the seven (furlongs) out - we know that from Sandown. I just wish we hadn’t had that rain in mid-week.

“But you can see from the pace you’ve got a Middle Park winner making the running and that’s a different gear altogether and the favourite was under pressure but his class saw him through.

“We’re thrilled with him and we’ll come back for the 2000 Guineas. I just hope it isn’t soft ground in the Guineas. The boys say the ground on this side is softer today than where we were yesterday on the old Cambridgeshire meeting ground because that had been opened up. This is very lush and it’s slow ground.”