Dewhurst
 

looks the race of the season if the 3 big guns go..
Can New Approach follow in Teofilo's footsteps and be the new ray of hope in Bolger's stable.. Can Rio de la Plata reverse form with New Approach from the Curragh after an impressive win in a G1 in France just over a week ago. Can Raven's Pass confirm the promise of his first 3 runs??

A few here think Rio could get much closer to NA with a more positive ride, but the race might be one tough race too many, and he'll need to be at his best here. Can NA keep up his irresitible form. He just doesnt seem to be giving 100% when he is racing which is quite a scary thought.. Raven's Pass looked amazing last time out so I have no doubts he is a G1 horse..

last years race was one of my favourite races of all time, so Im really hoping this lives up to its billing.. It shows just hiw good this race is, is that good horses like Luck Money, Macartney and Dark Angel are double figure odds..

best odds:
New Approach (2) , Raven s Pass (11/4) , Rio De La Plata (7/2) , Fast Company (10) , Mccartney (10) , Dark Angel (20) , Luck Money (20) , Moynahan (20) , Hatta Fort (40) , Achilles Of Troy (100) , Greatwallofchina (100) , Great Rumpuscat (150) , Magna Cum Laude (200) , Dubai Meydan (250)

Darley Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)
£250000.00 added, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
14 runners
Going: Good


314025 Achilles Of Troy (IRE) 23 2 - A P O'Brien -
041011 Dark Angel (IRE) 13 2 - B W Hills 114
3 Dubai Meydan (IRE) 11 2 - Miss Gay Kelleway -
11 Fast Company (IRE) 67 2 - B J Meehan -
61 Great Rumpuscat (USA) 28 2 - A P O'Brien -
0026 Greatwallofchina (USA) 20 2 - A P O'Brien -
51314 Hatta Fort 86 2 - M R Channon 104
131 Luck Money (IRE) 36 2 - P F I Cole 108
260320 Magna Cum Laude (IRE) 17 2 - A P O'Brien 91
3111 McCartney (GER) 42 2 - M Johnston 115
41 Moynahan (USA) 52 2 - P F I Cole -
1111 New Approach (IRE) 34 2 - J S Bolger -
111 Raven's Pass (USA) 56 2 - J H M Gosden 114
31121 Rio de La Plata (USA) 21 2 - Saeed bin Suroor 120

I think there is every chance that Raven's Pass could win here. Out of the 'big three' he is the only one who has laid out for this race. Both Rio and New Approach are coming here as something of an after thought it seems.

I do think New Approach will turn out to be the best horse in the race in the long run, though.

Laugh if you want, but the maiden, Dubai Meydan is very highly regarded from a small stable and they think he is well up to Group class. He will be a big price if he runs on Saturday and could be worth an each way bet, given how well he has been working.

New Approach sounds ready... cant wait....

from racingpost;;;;
NEW APPROACH put in a "scintillating"workout on Tuesday ahead of defending his unbeaten record in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

The National Stakes winner will be attempting to emulate former stablemate Teofilo, who completed an unbeaten juvenile season by landing the Group 1 Newmarket event a year ago when he secured his position as Europe's top two-year-old.

The winner of the Dewhurst should claim that title again this year with New Approach again meeting his immediate National Stakes victim Rio de la Plata.

After the ante-post favourite for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas worked on his Coolcullen gallops, trainer Jim Bolger said: "New Approach worked this morning. It was a scintillating piece of work. It all went very well and he is in very good form for Saturday."

Jamie Spencer has been booked to partner supplementary entry Moynahan for Paul Cole with Richard Quinn maintaining his association with stablemate Luck Money, the Coventry runner-up and Goffs Million winner.

Both completed their preparations for Saturday's contest with an older lead horse at Cole's Whatcombe base.

Emphasising that the work was purely routine, Cole said: "They both worked very well and are in tip-top form. If there is a bit of cut in the ground it shouldn't bother either ofthem."

Moynahan impressed many in winning his maiden from Iguazu Falls at York's big August meeting and stablemate Luck Money was an equally impressive winner of the Goffs Million at The Curragh.
The unbeaten Fast Company was a market mover for the Dewhurst on Tuesday being clipped a point to 7-1 by William Hill, to 8-1 by Skybet and to 9-1 by VCbet.

Trainer Brian Meehan, whose Royal Lodge Stakes winner City Leader is set to run in the Racing Post Trophy the following weekend, said:on Tuesday: "He's in great order. He worked yesterday and looked in very good shape. It's going to be a great race."

Mick Channon had a ground warning about Hatta Fort's participation in one of the season's top two-year-old races.

After Hatta Fort breezed on the woodchip all-weather at West Ilsley, Channon said: "He's come out of his run at Longchamp great but he didn't like the going there. It was a good effort in the circumstances but if the ground's soft he won't run on Saturday."

Newmarketwas bracing itself for upwards of half an inch of rain last night but with a forecast of dry sunny spells from today through to Champions Day.

Clerk of the course Michael Prosser was forecasting good ground by Saturday.

After under 2mm of rain up to teatime on Tuesday, Prosser said: "Two forecasts are saying we will have anywhere between half and two-thirds of an inch of rain overnight.

"Tonight is quite key to what ground we will have but high pressure is forecast to build from Wednesday through to Saturday with plenty of sunny spells on Saturday.

"I think we will be good to soft on Friday on the track used for the Cambridgeshire but on fresh ground on Saturday we should be close to good."

It was chucking it down about half an hour ago here, and i'm only about six miles from the Rowley Mile track.

Should be a fantastic race, i really hope New Approach will win, but it won't be the end of the world if he doesn't. He isn't bred to be a 2yo and he has achieved more than enough this year for people to realise how good he will be next year with the huge amount of improvement there is to come with this son of Galileo. As long as he runs well, i will be more than happy with that. A win is very much a bonus, like all of his other wins this year have been.

Raven's Pass has been laid out for the race, and his Sandown win has been boosted no end with the second (who was miles behind him) going on to win the Royal Lodge. He looks to be improving. Softish ground might find him out though with the sitff finish.

Rio De La Plata is a nice racehorse, and it has been unfortunate for Godolphin that they have come up against New Approach. If they really thought Rio was better than NA though, why have they purchased a large share of NA? If he is going to overturn the form it will be on Saturday, if he doesn't do it then i don't think he ever will. They have been concerned about soft ground, but speaking to the different people that have ridden him, they have all said he is better with a bit of cut underfoot. So the rain shouldn't be a problem. He has had a long season though, and a very recent race.

hatta fort
will win in
a shocker.

Well, it was raining here all night long last night. Bright sunshine now, but we must have had at least an inch of the wet stuff. The Rowley Mile does dry out quickly, but i think good ground could be the quickest to expect for Saturday.

I just don't understand Godolphin. Now it looks like Rio won't be running at the weekend because of soft ground, yet everyone who has ridden him thinks he is better with a bit of cut in the ground.

Mr Crisford, just because he is by Rahy, it doesn't always mean that he will want fast ground....... if you were to talk to your staff, no matter how much lower down they are to you in the operation you might learn a thing or two :rolleyes:

This is the only chance of Rio beating New Approach in my opinion, and it looks like they are going to cry off with their tails between their legs!


Please, cry babies...... i mean Godolphin, Please run Rio De La Plata on Saturday. It would make for a very good three way battle if he does.

Raven's Pass now not certain to run, either. :(

I'd make my pick but need to wait to see if there will be any actual runners in this race.....

New Approach will be there, he isn't frightened!

Rio / Dark Angel :eek:

I'm actually more excited about this one.....

Love half the field but good luck to Al Qasi.:cool:

And Balthazaar.

Mac Love and Asset too.

Oh and Cesare.....:D


14:05
15 Run Vc Bet Challenge Stakes (group 2)
Class 1, £90000.00 added, 3yo plus, £54963.00 penalty 7f
Back to Top

Form Horse Trainer Age Wgt Jockey
1(11) 5-15124 Cesare J R Fanshawe 6 9 7 J P Spencer
2(2) 124111 Toylsome J Hirschberger 8 9 7 S Pasquier
3(14) 21351 Arabian Gleam J Noseda 3 9 5 J Murtagh
4(3) 1-60215 Al Qasi (IRE) P W Chapple-Hyam 4 9 3 T E Durcan
5(10) 136262 Asset (IRE) R Hannon 4 9 3 R L Moore
6(9) 016230 Balthazaar's Gift (IRE) L M Cumani 4 9 3 J Fortune
7(8) 7517-21 Candidato Roy (ARG) W J Haggas 6 9 3 L Dettori
8(12) 3-24312 Duff (IRE) Edward Lynam 4 9 3 D P McDonogh
9(15) 301941 Eisteddfod P F I Cole 6 9 3 N De Souza
10(6) 306645 Mac Love J Noseda 6 9 3 E Ahern
11(7) 364117 Pride of Nation (IRE) L M Cumani 5 9 3 C P Lemaire
12(13) 111-430 Caldra (IRE) S Kirk 3 9 1 K J Manning
13(1) 131-660 Captain Marvelous (IRE) B W Hills 3 9 1 D Holland
14(5) 311117 Lovelace M Johnston 3 9 1 R Ffrench
15(4) 242221 Miss Lucifer (FR) B W Hills 3 8 12 M Hills


Betting Forecast: 9/2 Cesare, 6/1 Arabian Gleam, 7/1 Al Qasi (IRE), Toylsome, 8/1 Duff (IRE), Asset (IRE), Balthazaar's Gift (IRE), 10/1 Pride of Nation (IRE), Candidato Roy (ARG), 14/1 Lovelace, 25/1 Eisteddfod, 33/1 Miss Lucifer (FR), 50/1 Mac Love, Caldra (IRE), 100/1 Captain Marvelous (IRE)

a fab days racing, i just cant see too many clear bets.. Ill back Cesare.. Everything seems in his favour (well almost everything!). I can see a fast run race with Spencer cantering through the field and hopefully, getting his head in front on the line..

Notnowcato seems like a great bet, G1 winner, ground trip ideal, just a little concern that he didnt do too well in this race last year..

Id like to have a big bet on Ravens but Ill just savour the race of the year..

cracking race. New Approach shows hes the real deal.. didnt have things his own way and still won... a brilliant champion. roll on 2008!

Fast Company made up tons of ground to be a fast finishing 2nd, but it never really looked like hed get NA. NA just put his head down and showed a brilliant attitude when he needed it. I was slightly disappointed with Ravens. He came to win the race and went nearly 1-5 in running but then seemed to empty out in the last furlong. THe ground certainly was slower than he wanted so he may just need some good weather next year to show his best. it looked like they went to the well too much with Rio, a decent performance but much further behind NA than in Ireland..

I'd like to see where all the people who were trying to tell me Rio would beat New Approach this time :D

He looked like a superstar today. He didn't get his own way and had to really battle and he was well on top at the line despite the winning distance. A very classy animal.

Rio De La Who?

It's all about New Approach.

well, as i said previously, Rio looked to have had one race too many, so you can hardly come to a definitive conclusion. still a nice prospect.. that said NA was class today. It'll be a very interesting Guineas next year..

I dont buy that argument at all. They said he was fine and going really well at home. Two days after his race in France they said he'd come out of it really well. He looked one of the best in the paddock today actually. To say he's had too many races is scraping the barrell for excuses.

New Approach had four races before today, only one less than Rio.

That is no excuse at all. If they didn't think he was going to run up to scratch they wouldn't have run him. The first three were simply too good for him today. He is still a nice prospect, you're right, but i'd be confident to say that he will find it very, very difficult to beat the three in front of him today.

The second ran a huge race, but never looked likely of heading New Approach.

New Approach wasn't the best away, he didn't like being ampongst horses but he really put his head down and showed the world what he's made off.

trainers can never be 100% certain that a horse is fine and well. Rio looked a different horse today than last time out or in Ireland. He never seemed to be travelling, and his finishing kick was not there at all. He looked a tired horse at the end. He had 3 weeks from G1 in ireland to the G1 in France, then just had 2 weeks between that and today.. Some horses can take it, most can't..
Im not arguing that Rio is better than NA at all, but to say that youve been proved right that he cant reverse form with NA is not correct. You could be spot on that NA improves much more than Rio this winter, but I am not entirely sure that the Guineas will be a cakewalk for NA.

Horses will show you if they have had enough racing or not by what they do at home. All of the Godolphin team have said they hade been pleased with his work. They said right from the word go that he had come out of the French race really well, which is no surprise because he won so easily. He looked the pick of the paddock for me. No signs of over races, he hadn't gone 'hollow' around the hip, which is the main sign of horses who have had too much racing. He certainly didn't look tired there.

You say he didn't travel, but everything travelled better than the winner through the race.

I think it is a very poor excuse myself. I can understand if he had a hard race in France, but he didn't. It was nothing more than a good exercise that day, he looked grand in the paddock, his coat still gleaming and looked full of energy.

The reason for not finding that usual kick was the hill finish, i don't think he handled that too well. That for me would be the only real excuse.

I can't see him getting anywhere near New Approach again. Why should he? He has beaten twice with ease and yet people are still making excuses for him.

Everytime a Godolphin horse gets beaten when it was fancied there are a list of excuses five miles long. The only reason Jim Bolger sent New Approach to the Dewhurst was because Rio was going to run and he wanted to silence to doubters once and for all, but still the excuses are coming from every angle for the Godolphin animal.

Why can't they be more like their staff. I was up there with two of thier lads today and they both said after the race "he just isn't quite good enough"

I agree that the Guineas will not be a cakewalk for New Approach, but it won't be Rio that makes him race for it. I was concerned that New Approach hit a flat spot for quite a long time today, which made me worry slightly about the Guineas. Don't forget though that the Dewhurst wasn't the plan at all for him up until two weeks ago. It was some achievement today.

I would be worried about a large field in the Guineas next year as this horse doesn't like being crowded. He's still a big baby. He had to be ponied down to the start today, did you see that? He's still very immature, which is why i think he will be a superstar next year.

I was very impressed with the second today, and he will be a real danger in the Guineas. Raven's Pass let me down a bit today (i actually thought he'd win). I left the race alone from a betting point of view. The winner and the second are both out of the top draw, and i can see the Fast Company keeping much more pace than New Approach next year. Out of all the horses NA has faced this year, the horse in second today is the only one likely to turn the form around.

That would be me.

I really did think he'd win.

Easily.

Aaaah well..... not too disappointed. New Approach is indeed a very nice horse.

Must go and sulk about Maraahel some more.....

I'm not saying he isn't a nice horse, but he isn't good enough to mix it with the horses that filled the placings yesterday.

Suroor and Crisfrod were very disappointed, which also back up they both thought that the horse had coped fine with the races he had. Suroor was quoted in the paper beforehand saying "he looks fresh and well and i've been very pleased with his work".

He is doubtful to go for the English or Irish guineas now, instead he is likely to follow the same route they went with Shamardal and run in the French Guineas, which will be much easier pickings for him.

What i liked about New Approach was that he looked like he was the first horse beaten, but he never gave in. Kevin Manning said the further they went the better he felt, which goes well for both the guineas and the derby. Also, Bolger had said that the horse hadn't done any serious fast work before this race. He had done a piece of half pace work to help him settle and that was it.

Fast Company will give him something to think about, and Raven's Pass should be better on fast ground, but both will have to pull out more to beat New Approach.

I really like Bolger, he never ducks a battle. New Approach had everything to lose yesterday and most trainers wouldn't have run him. Actually, i'd say every trainer bar him wouldn't have run him. He decided to run just because Godolphin were going there, to prove he was the best 2yo by some distance, and boy did he do that.

interesting article from the racingpost.. Godolphin havent seemed to be able to get their 3yos from Dubai to Newmarket 100% so it doesnt bode well for Fast Company... If it is quick ground, I think Ravens Pass will give NA a good run for his money.... but the scary thing is that the horse with the most amount of potential improvement from 2 to 3 is the 2year old champ.. he could be 10 lengths better than these next May..

from racingpost::
THE fact Sheikh Mohammed has a stake in the Dewhurst first and third, as well as the second, fourth and seventh via Godolphin, will have no bearingon running plans next year, it was underlined on Sunday.

The sheikh bought a 50 per cent share in Dewhurst winner New Approach last month, and as reported in the Racing Post also purchased a stake in third-placed Raven's Pass on the eve of the Darley-sponsored race at Newmarket.

An agenda for those two colts will be mapped out by trainers Jim Bolger and John Gosden, in coalition with Sheikh Mohammed, over the winter.

Whatever plans are agreed for New Approach and Raven's Pass, they will not dictate where Fast Company, Rio De La Plata and McCartney run.

Dewhurst fourth Rio De La Plata was the only one of that trio to carry the Godolphin silks on Saturday, but runner-up Fast Company will join the Dubai-based operation within the next few days.

McCartney is expected to be transferred to Godolphin, having carried Sheikh Mohammed's maroon and white colours for trainer Mark Johnston at Newmarket.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "Rio De La Plata has come out of his race very well - he's in fine shape. We were pleased with him, even though he didn't run up to his best form. He was about a length or two below that."

He added: "He's had a long season and deserves a break. He'll be going to Dubai for the winter, along with Fast Company.
"We'd like to thank Fast Company's trainer Brian Meehan, and his team at Manton, for the fantastic job they've done with the colt.

"In the Dewhurst he fully justified Brian's faith in him, which he expressed in the build up to the race. He ran a huge race in defeat and, all being well, we will bring him back for the Guineas in May."

Meehan expressed his belief that Fast Company was unlucky not to beat New Approach, who prevailed by half a length.

He said: "I've thought the world of him throughout, and was really pleased with his performance. He did it really well on his previous start at York and Saturday's was one of the best Dewhursts since I've been in the game.

"The winner looks very good but had the rail. Would we have beaten New Approach if we had been on the fence? It would certainly have been very close. Mine's run an absolute cracker."

Meehan added: "Godolphin gave me the opportunity to train him until the end of the year and it's been a great experience training for them for the past three months. They're very easy people to deal with and put so much into the industry.

"My job was to hand the colt over to Godolphin and that will happen after he's had a few days to recover."

Between 1997 and 2005, Godolphin saddled either two or three colts in the 2,000 Guineas each year, but for the past two years have been represented by just one.

I didn't realise they had purchased Fast approach.

I don't understand why Godolphin don't bring their horses back earlier. Sometimes they only have two weeks to recover and it just isn't long enough.

One fast ground Raven's Pass will get closer to New Approach, but i can't see him beating NA.

Just a thought, and i might even get called mad or insane for saying it, but the OFT might want to have a look into the Godolphin operation and if at any point they do, they could be forced to change their game plan.

The OFT have long said racing isn't competitive as it should be. Well, with all this purchasing that Godolphin are doing (they now basically own the classic brigade for next year), where is the competition coming from?

I'm sick and tired seeing them buy everyone elses horses just because they haven't got horses of their own that are good enough. It's ruining the sport in my opinion, there is already a distinct lack of competition in some of these Group races we have without Godolphin coming along and snapping up all the good horses with a big chance of not seeing them run against eachother next year. Hopefully Raven's Pass and New Approach will square up again, but i doubt the others will be there.

I know many of you will say "but you dislike Godolphin so you have a biased opinion", but i'm talking from a racing fan's point of view. They can't keep buying all of the opposition. They are supposed to have the best breeding operation in the world. So why aren't they using it? Their flag bearers this year: Rio, Ramonti, Blue Ksar, Echo Of Light etc etc.... none of them were bred by Darley. So, what's going on? They have the use of some of the world's best stallions and no doubt some of the top mares. Why should they need to buy the oposition?

You only have to look at Juddmonte, they very rarely buy any yearlings and very rarely buy horses in training from other people, but look at the success they get, they stick to what they breed, and they do well.