Royal Ascot

running order/results

2012 St James's Palace Stakes

royal ascot 2013/

Dawn Approach Returns to Winning Ways
18/06/13

1 Dawn Approach 5/4 Fav
2 Toronado 5/1
3 Mars 10/1
9 ran Distances: shd, 2¾l, 1¼l
TIME 1m 39.23s (fast by 0.77s)

Classic winner Dawn Approach turned a nadir into triumph when rekindling the form that saw him win the QIPCO 2,000 Guineas.

Dawn Approach
© Caroline Norris

Clinging on by a short-head from runner-up Toronado, Dawn Approach took the St James’s Palace Stakes just 17 days after finishing last in the Investec Derby at Epsom. He gave jockey Kevin Manning a horrible ride that day, pulling uncontrollably, and while keen today the shorter one-mile trip played to his strengths when it mattered.

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 chesnut 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’ enquiry 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.”

When Bolger decided to run Dawn Approach in today’s race he sent Godolphin’s Simon Crisford a text that said: ‘Be prepared for a shock’. Bolger said: “Simon spoke to His Highness who said he would be very happy for the horse to run. Two weeks and a couple of days [since Epsom] isn’t too soon for me and the horse ate up and was very happy throughout that period.

“Pat O’Donovan was very brave because he was happy to ride the horse out in a hackamore [a bitless bridle] after Epsom for nearly a week because his mouth was quite sore. That was the winning of today’s race. To ride him in a hackamore was really something. I didn’t get low after Epsom, but I don’t get too high either – I’m in the middle. This game would tame tigers, so I would never get carried away. We’ll talk about plans but I’m not making any predictions yet – everything is up for consideration.”

Kevin Manning said: “He took a bit of a bite again – he was a little bit keen with me – but I got there and, once I got my head in front, Richard was fighting me but I was always holding on. He is a real battler. I wasn’t sure but I thought I had won.”

St James's Palace Stakes (British Champions Series) (Group 1)
£350,000 added, 3yo only, 1m, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good

FANTASTIC DAWN APPROACH

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.

“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 further afield.”

Kevin Manning has ridden Dawn Approach in all his starts. The jockey said: “When I pulled him out, I have gone there with plenty of horse but received a serious knock from the inside. 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
© Racehorse Photos

HANNON PLEASED DESPITE SECOND

Toronado had to settle for second place after Dawn Approach was announced the short-head victor in a thrilling renewal of the Group One St James’s Palace Stake. 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 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown on July 6 and the Qipco Sussex Stakes at Glorious Goodwood July 31, as is Dawn Approach, and Hannon added all options are open.

Richard Hughes, who rode the QIPCO 2000 guineas fourth, added: “I'd have won – I deliberately went round the outside so I didn’t get a bump.”

THE ST JAMES'S PALACE STAKES
Past Results

2012-WINNER-MOST IMPROVED 3-9-00 Owner-Iraj Parvizi; Trainer-Brian Meehan; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-9/1
2RD-Hermival 3-9-00 Owner-H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani; Trainer-Mikel Delzangles FR; Jockey-Gregory Benoist;
SP-9/1
3RD-Gregorian 3-9-00 Owner-H R H Princess Haya of Jordan; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-14/1
16 ran; Time-1m 40.14s; Dist-¾, hd 11/4 Fav Power (12th)

2011-WINNER-FRANKEL 3-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Tom Queally; SP-30/100 Fav
2ND-Zoffany 3-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-
20/1
3RD-Excelebration 3-9-00 Owner-Giuliano Manfredini; Trainer-Marco Botti; Jockey-Adam Kirby; SP-10/1
9 ran; Time-1m 39.24s; Dist-¾, 1½

2010-WINNER-CANFORD CLIFFS 3-9-00 Owner-Heffer Syndicate, Susan Roy & Mrs Instance; Trainer-Richard Hannon;
Jockey-Richard Hughes; SP-11/4 Jt Fav
2ND-Dick Turpin 3-9-00 Owner-John Manley; Trainer-Richard Hannon; Jockey-Ryan Moore; SP-5/1
3RD-Hearts Of Fire 3-9-00 Owner-Pat Eddery Racing (Detroit); Trainer-Pat Eddery; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-33/1
9 ran; Time-1m 39.55s; Dist-1, ¾ 11/4 Jt Fav Makfi (7th)

2009- WINNER-MASTERCRAFTSMAN 3-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien
IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/6 Fav
2ND-Delegator 3-9-00 Owner-Poilin Good; Trainer-Brian Meehan; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-4/1
3RD-Lord Shanakill 3-9-00 Owner: Mogeely Stud & Mark Gittins; Trainer: Karl Burke; Jockey-Jim Crowley; SP-20/1
10 ran; Time: 1m 39.21s; Dist-nk, 1½

2008-WINNER-HENRYTHENAVIGATOR 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh;
SP-4/7 Fav
2ND-Raven’s Pass 3-9-00 Owner-Stonerside Stable LLC; Trainer-John Gosden; Jockey-Jimmy Fortune; SP-7/1
3RD-Twice Over 3-9-00 Owner-Khalid Abdullah; Trainer-Henry Cecil; Jockey-Ted Durcan; SP-8/1
8 ran, Time-1m 38.7s, Dist-¾, 2½

2007-WINNER-EXCELLENT ART 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-8/1
2ND-Duke Of Marmalade 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane;
SP-11/1
3RD-Astronomer Royal 3-9-00 Owner-Derrick Smith, Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-
Colm O’Donoghue; SP-14/1
8 ran, Time-1m 39.33s, Dist-nk, 1¼ Evens Fav Cockney Rebel (5th)

2006-WINNER-ARAAFA 3-9-00 Owner-Saleh Al Homaizi & Imad Al Sagar; Trainer-Jeremy Noseda; Jockey-Alan Munro;
SP-2/1 Fav
2ND-Stormy River 3-9-00 Owner-Ecurie Mister Ess AS; Trainer-Nicolas Clement FR; Jockey-Olivier Peslier; SP-7/2
3RD-Ivan Denisovich 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor, Mr & Mrs Irving Cowan; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE;
Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-13/2
11 ran, Time-1m 39.59s, Dist-2, 1¾

2005-WINNER-SHAMARDAL 3-9-00 Owner-Godolphin; Trainer-Saeed bin Suroor; Jockey-Kerrin McEvoy; SP-7/4 Fav
2ND-Ad Valorem 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-8/1
3RD-Oratorio 3-9-00 Owner-Sue Magnier & Michael Tabor; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Kieren Fallon; SP-6/1
8 ran, Time-1m 37.18s Dist-3, 1¾ (run at York)

2004-WINNER-AZAMOUR 3-9-00 Owner-H H Aga Khan; Trainer-John Oxx IRE; Jockey-Michael Kinane; SP-9/2
2ND-Diamond Green 3-9-00 Owner-Lagardere Family; Trainer-Andre Fabre FR; Jockey-Gary Stevens; SP-10/1
3RD-Antonius Pius 3-9-00 Owner-Michael Tabor & Sue Magnier; Trainer-Aidan O’Brien IRE; Jockey-Jamie Spencer; SP-7/1
11 ran, Time-1m 39.02s Dist-nk, ¾ 6/4 Fav Haafhd (4th)

2003-WINNER-ZAFEEN 3-9-00 Owner-Jaber Abdullah; Trainer-Mick Channon; Jockey-Darryll Holland; SP-8/1
2ND-Kalaman 3-9-00 Owner H H Aga Khan; Trainer-Sir Michael Stoute; Jockey-Johnny Murtagh; SP-5/2 Fav
3RD-Martillo 3-9-00 Owner-Gestut Hony-Hof; Trainer-Ralf Suerland GER; Jockey-William Mongil; SP-12/1
11 ran, Time-1m 39.91s Dist-1, 3