Report: Royal Ascot, Tuesday

Coventry Stakes (Group 2) 6f, 2yo

Dawn Approach gave Jim Bolger his first Coventry winner, as the colt justified his home reputation and remained unbeaten from four starts.

In the build up to the race, Bolger had spoken of how the horse is as good a two-year-old as he has trained and he showed a nice attitude for Kevin Manning, quickening from just off the pace to beat the fast finishing Olympic Glory.

Stablemate Leitir Mor had cut out a strong pace up front with The Taj, with favourite Sir Prancealot settled further back in the field on the stands side.
 

Dawn Approach (nearest) wins from Olympic Glory and Cristoforo Colombo, picture Liesl King

 

As those who had set the gallop started to weaken, Manning came through quickly to lead, and lengthened nicely to the line from Olympic Glory, with Cristoforo Colombo third after challenging down the centre. Sir Prancealot did make progress to finish fourth.

Bolger, who trained Dawn Approach's sire New Approach to Classic glory in the 2008 Derby, said: "He has everything. He has pace, stamina, looks, temperament - there's no holes in this fella. I don't see him going beyond a mile and I don't want him going beyond a mile; that'll do me.

"I'll probably give him a little break and then maybe the Futurity and the National Stakes. If I can find a space then maybe the Dewhurst and there's maybe Longchamp. He'll have three more runs." 
 

Group 2 Coventry Stakes (1200m) For 2yo: 1st: £48,203.50; 2nd: £18,275; 3rd: £9,146; 4th: £4,556; 5th: £2,286; 6th: £1,147.50


1) DAWN APPROACH (IRE) (Jackie Bolger/J P Spain) Jim Bolger IRE 2-9-0-1 Kevin Manning [13] 7/2
2) OLYMPIC GLORY (IRE) (Julie Wood) Richard Hannon 2-9-01 Dane O'Neill [16] 20/1
3) CRISTOFORO COLOMBO (USA) (Sue Magnier, Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Joseph O'Brien [6] 13/2
4) SIR PRANCEALOT (IRE) (Andrew Tinkler) Richard Hannon 2-9-01 Richard Hughes [21] 3/1 Fav
5) ARTIGIANO (USA) (Godolphin) Mahmood Al Zarooni 2-9-01 Frankie Dettori [11]
6) LINES OF BATTLE (USA) (Joe Allen/Sue Magnier/Michael Tabor/Derrick Smith) Aidan O'Brien IRE 2-9-01 Ryan Moore [9]
7) LEITIR MOR (IRE) (Jackie Bolger) Jim Bolger IRE p1 2-9-01 Ronan Whelan [14]
8) INDIAN JADE (Michael Beaumont) Kevin Ryan 2-9-01 Philip Makin [10]
9) MASTER OF WAR (M S Al Shahi) Richard Hannon 2-9-01 Jimmy Fortune [1]
10) THE TAJ (Hamdan Al Maktoum) Richard Hannon 2-9-01 Paul Hanagan [23]
11) HEAVY METAL (Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum) Mark Johnston 2-9-01 Silvestre De Sousa [17]
12) DARK EMERALD (IRE) (K Rhatigan) Brendan Powell 2-9-01 Fran Berry [3]
13) BADDILINI (Mrs A Shone & Mrs V Hubbard) Alan Bailey 2-9-01 George Baker [2]
14) WHITFIELD (USA) (Susan Roy) Jeremy Noseda 2-9-01 William Buick [5]
15) ENGLISHMAN (Qatar Racing Limited & Peter Winkworth) Charlie Hills 2-9-01 Michael Hills [4]
16) LIVING DESERT (GB Partnership) James Toller 2-9-01 Kirsty Milczarek [12]
17) KING DRAGON (IRE) (Trelawny II) Brian Meehan 2-9-01 Martin Dwyer [7]
18) NEW PEARL (IRE) (Qatar Racing Limited) David Brown 2-9-01 Johnny Murtagh [20]
19) FUNK SOUL BROTHER (Phil Cunningham) Charlie Hills 2-9-01 Darryll Holland [18]
20) TOP BOY (Brian Johnson (Northamptonshire)) Derek Shaw 2-9-01 Joe Fanning [8]
21) PARTY ROYAL (D & G Mercer 1) Mark Johnston 2-9-01 Mirco Demuro [22]
22) MRS BROWN'S BOY (Anisska Racing Limited) Ron Harris 2-9-01 Luke Morris [19]

22 ran Non-Runner: 10 JUBILEE BRIG (Vets Cert (Bad Scope))
Breeder: J S Bolger
Breeding: ch c New Approach (IRE) - Hymn Of The Dawn (USA) (Phone Trick (USA))
Time: 1m 13.64s Distances: ¾, nk, 2½, ¾, 1¾, 1, 1, ½, nk, 1, sh, hd, ¾, ½, 1½, hd, ¾, nk, ½, 7, 9