2007 result

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Imperious New Approach
18/10/08

1st 7 New Approach 6/5 Fav
2nd 10 Twice Over 8/1
3rd 1 Linngari 12/1

New Approach brought the curtain down on his career in spectacular fashion with a devastating six-length victory in the highlight of Champions’ Day, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes.

Always travelling well throughout in the slipstream of his pacemaker Upton Grey, the son of Galileo went to the front three furlongs out and showed a great turn of foot entering the final furlong to power right away and make the opposition look distinctly average.

New Approach, the 6/5 favourite, becomes the third horse following Ormonde (1886) and Lemberg (1910) to win the Dewhurst Stakes, Derby and Champion Stakes.

Trainer Jim Bolger, celebrating a Group One double today, said: “He had been in super form this week, I couldn’t have been happier with him.

“It all worked out perfectly today - it’s as if he waved two fingers to me on this his last run!

“I think his run today was near to perfect. It all worked out. He is the finest horse I have trained.

“To win a Group One race and still have something in the tank is just unbelievable.

“The horse really came to himself and was on-song a week after he won the Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown. He just needed the run to put him on song and has made further progress since then.

“It was lovely to get it all right with him today. I am very lucky to have had a horse like him pass through my hands. This horse has his idiosyncrasies - we have just had to play it by ear with him. It was a huge day when we went to Epsom - to have kept everything together that day was a great achievement.”

Kevin Manning, the successful jockey, added: “The pacemaker did a good job in giving us a good even pace.

“New Approach settled well today and everything went right. The way he picked up approaching the final furlong, I knew nothing was going to come past me. That was his best performance so far.”

The winning time of 2m 0.13s was a new course record, beating the previous best of 2m 1s.

PRINCESS HAYA - THE WINNING OWNER

Princess Haya of Jordan, the owner of the very impressive winner of the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes, New Approach, revealed that the three-year-old colt has run his last race.

She said: “Everything was perfect today - the horse looked wonderful. I took my daughter to see him this morning. It has been a wonderful day, though we miss not having Sheikh Mohammed here - he is in the UAE.

“It was a dream come true to win the Derby and everybody who has had anything to do with New Approach has been part of that dream - Jim (Bolger) and all his team, the whole Bolger family and the stables - they have all been wonderful to us throughout. It is people who really make it special along the way.

“The horse has saved the best until last - I think we have seen something wonderful today.

“You are always nervous before your horse runs. He is going to retire to stud now - I was praying that he would win today as he really deserves it.

“It is a wonderful way to end his racing career. I don’t think my nerves would stand him running again.

“Thank you all today and thanks to Newmarket and everybody in racing in England who have been so supportive all the way through. All the friendliness and hospitality that we see in this country is really impressive.”

CECIL GRACIOUS AFTER ANOTHER GROUP ONE RUNNER-UP

Runner-up Twice Over was Henry Cecil’s sole Emirates Airline Champion Stakes representative after injury ruled out stablemate Phoenix Tower. The Observatory colt posted a valiant effort when finishing second to the highly impressive New Approach.

Cecil said: “He ran a great race but the winner was very good today. Phoenix Tower would have given him a race but whether he’d have beaten him or not is another matter.

“This horse I’m really pleased with - he’s done everything right. He was a really good second but the winner was a better horse than he was at Newmarket (in the re-arranged Juddmonte International).”

Sir Michael Stoute, trainer of the third-placed Linngari hinted at one final run for the six-year-old Indian Ridge entire before retirement.

He said: “It was as good a performance as he’s ever put up. He’s a model of consistency and he’s tough and honest.

“He could have one final fling in Hong Kong but it’s too early to tell. He could go for the Cup there.”

TWO-DAY BAN FOR TOM QUEALLY

Tom Queally was suspended for two days - Saturday & Sunday, November 1 & 2 after being found guilty of careless riding by the Newmarket stewards.

The jockey, riding Emirates Airline Champion Stakes second Twice Over, caused interference to the fourth Russian Cross two and a half furlongs out, going to the right when not sufficiently clear.

EMIRATES AIRLINE CHAMPION STAKES (GROUP ONE)
£427,500 guaranteed, 1m 2f, For 3yo+ Weights 3yo colts and geldings 8st 12lb; fillies 8st 9lb; 4yo+ colts and geldings 9st 3lb; fillies 9st Weight for age 3 from 4yo+ 5lb Entries 64 pay £1250 1st Forfeit 30 pay £1400 2nd Forfeit 2 pay £30,000 Confirmed 12 pay £1100 Penalty value 1st £242,691.75; 2nd £91,998; 3rd £46,041.75; 4th £22,956.75; 5th £11,499.75; 6th £5,771.25

1 NEW APPROACH (IRE) (HRH Princess Haya of Jordan) Jim Bolger 3-8-12 Kevin Manning [10] 6/5f
2 TWICE OVER (Khalid Abdulla) Henry Cecil 3-8-12 Tom Queally [3] 8/1
3 LINNGARI (IRE) R Plersch & P Walichnowski) Sir Michael Stoute 6-9-3 Ryan Moore [1] 12/1
4 RUSSIAN CROSS (IRE) (Baron Edouard de Rothschild) Andre Fabre FR 3-8-12 Olivier Peslier [9]
5 TRAFFIC GUARD (USA) (Fitri Hay) Jane Chapple-Hyam 4-9-3 John Egan [6]
6 FULL OF GOLD (FR) (Alec Head) Criquette Head-Maarek FR 3-8-12 Dominic Boeuf [7]
7 PIPEDREAMER (Cheveley Park Stud) John Gosden 4-9-3 Frankie Dettori [8]
8 UPTON GREY (IRE) (HRH Princess Haya of Jordan) John Gosden 3-8-12 Robert Havlin [11]
9 HEBRIDEAN (IRE) (Adrian Nolan) Aidan O'Brien IRE 3-8-12 Johnny Murtagh [4]
10 CITY LEADER (IRE) (Roldvale Ltd, Sangster Family & A Collins) Brian Meehan 3-8-12 Jamie Spencer [2]
11 STAYING ON (IRE) (M Dixon) Walter Swinburn 3-8-12 Adam Kirby [5]

11 ran Distances: 6, 1 1/2, 1 1/4, 4 1/2, nk, 8, 1/2, 1/2, 5, 22
Time: 2m 00.13s (New Track Record - previous record 2m 01.0s)
Breeder: Lodge Park Stud Breeding: ch c Galileo (IRE) - Park Express (Ahonoora)
Totes: Win: £2.20 Places: £1.10; £2.50; £3.70 Exacta: £11.90