[NoChanceToDance]

The Racing Post report............ (only just remembered i hadn't posted this yet)

by Tony O'Hehir


A HUGE season for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning reached a new high on Sunday when New Approach powered his way to victory in a vintage renewal of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh and ended the day as clear favourite for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas.

New Approach is 4-1 favourite from 6-1 with the Guineas sponsors. Ladbrokes and Cashmans are also 4-1 (from 8-1 and 10-1 respectively) while William Hill go 9-2 (from 7-1). However the Tote are as short as 11-4 (from 5-1).

Now unbeaten in four starts, New Approach has followed the same path successfully taken by his stablemate Teofilo last year by adding victory in Sunday's Bank of Scotland (Ireland)-sponsored event to his wins in a Curragh maiden, the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Teofilo, retired early last month due to a knee problem which prevented him from racing this year, wound up his unbeaten juvenile campaign in the Dewhurst Stakes but, after Sunday's one-and-three-quarter length win from Rio De La Plata, Bolger was non-committal about sending New Approach, jointly owned by his wife Jackie and Sheikh Mohammed, to Newmarket next month.

Bolger said: "We will play it by ear. Last year the Dewhurst had the edge in prestige over today's race and after winning the National Stakes Teofilo went there to make sure he would be European champion. It's a different story this year. This is the place and the race this year and there won't be the same urgency or need to send New Approach to Newmarket.

"We will wait a few weeks as there is no hurry to decide. We're talking about a whole new ball game this year. All the young stars were here today and this was one hell of a race."

New Approach made all the running on ground which was changed from good to firm to good following one hour of rain before racing, and he galloped on strongly to see off his highly regarded rivals.

The previously unbeaten Myboycharlie, winner of the Prix Morny, finishing one and three-quarter lengths behind Rio De La Plata in third with Lizard Island, runner-up to Rio De La Plata in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, one and a half lengths back in fourth.

While the race went smoothly for the winner, the preliminaries did not.
Despite being hooded, he refused to enter the parade ring before the race and went straight to the start, accompanied by a lead horse ridden by Bolger's assistant Adrian Taylor.
Bolger's explanation to the stewards, that every effort had been made to get the colt into the ring but that it had it improved impossible to do so as New Approach was reluctant to walk under the arch linking the pre-parade ring to the parade ring, was accepted.

"He was here early today and walked through the arch without any problem. But it was a different story when we asked him to do it before the race because of all the people who were about and trying to get close to him," Bolger said.

Looking forward to next season Bolger said: "He's bred for the Derby trip and he has the pace to do whatever you want to do with him in a race."

Asked if he harboured the same Guineas-Derby hopes he held for Teofilo a year ago, Bolger: "We didn't expect lightning to strike twice, but, yes, we will be looking at the Guineas and the Derby."

For Manning who with his father-in-law has enjoyed an excellent campaign involving two Classic wins with Finsceal Beo, two Group 1 wins with Saoirse Abu, the Goffs Fillies Million with Lush Lashes and Sunday's big race success, the National Stakes winner has everything.

He said: "He has a serious horse with loads of pace and the ability to find plenty when you ask him. He shied from something just after half-way but apart from that it was all pretty straight forward. He is very good."

Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, said of Rio De La Plata: "It was a very good race and he's run very well. I'd imagine the Dewhurst will be next for him."

Fozzy Stack, assistant to his father, Tommy, trainer of Myboycharlie said: "He got shuffled back a bit in the first half of the race which left him with that bit more to do. But the winner is the best, there isn't much argument about that and I'd imagine that will probably be it for our fellow this season."

Asked if the Guineas route or sprinting will be pursued with the Danetime colt next year, Stack said: "He is a stuffy colt, so I'd imagine he will probably run in one of the Guineas trials and we'll make a decision when that has happened."

Famous Name, like Rio De La Plata a €30,000 supplementary entry, finished sixth and trainer Dermot Weld said afterwards: "This was the best two-year old race in Europe this year and considering it was only Famous Name's second start, I'm pleased with his run. Things happened a bit quick for him but he is learning. He will have one more run this year, in the Group 3 Killavullen Stakes at Leopardstown next month."