Dawn Approach pleases Bolger ahead of Ascot

Dawn Approach will be looking to rebound in the Queen Elizabeth II off two recent losses (Photo courtesy of GBI Media) The Two Thousand Guineas and St James’s Palace Stakes winner, Dawn Approach, was reported in top form by his trainer, Jim Bolger, as he gears up for Saturday’s Group 1 Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot. Europe’s champion juvenile colt in 2012, when he was unbeaten in six starts, Dawn Approach has recovered from sickness which followed his disappointing run in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville in August. On that occasion he finished eight lengths behind Moonlight Cloud and Olympic Glory, with the latter seemingly sure to take him on again on Saturday.

“Dawn Approach is very well and we are very happy with him,” said Bolger
Tuesday morning. “I am hopeful that he will be able to cope with the softer
ground but we won’t be sure until after the race.”

He has encountered yielding ground in Ireland and good-to-soft in the UK, but
never softer than that, though the straight course at Ascot does drain
particularly well. The going is currently good-to-soft on the straight course
with a dry day forecast Tuesday.

He could yet have his fourth encounter with Toronado, which Dawn Approach
leads 2-1, though that will depend on how much rain falls between now and
Saturday with Toronado appreciating good or faster ground.

Looking to his runner in the Champion Stakes, the Irish Derby winner Trading
Leather, Bolger said: “Trading Leather is very well but we are very concerned
about the ground with him.”

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