(not such a) New Approach to retirement
October 19th 2008 04:56
At his last racetrack appearance before retirement New Approach won the Champion Stakes (10f) at Newmarket by six lengths - going to the line under hands-and-heels riding and taking almost a second off the old track record.
(photo: Getty Images)
The race was set up for such an emphatic (and memorable) finish to a stellar career by the efforts of his pacemaker, Upton Grey (also owned by Princess Haya of Jordan) who controlled the race tempo for as long as he could (3 furlongs from home) before New Approach joined him and then proceeded to display his superior staying ability and dominance.
It has been a remarkable career for this chestnut son of Galileo who raced on 11 occasions, winning 8 times, and never finishing further back than 3rd in any race.
After winning the Epsom Derby in June at his first test beyond the mile, New Approach was beaten on only one other occasion when he finished 3rd behind Duke Of Marmalade - with Phoenix Tower running 2nd - in the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes. This was his first appearance after recovery from an injury and no disgrace under the circumstances. Phoenix Tower was expected to give New Approach his toughest test in the Champion Stakes, but he was not able to take his place after suffering a career-ending injury when scans revealed a tear to his tendon.
There were only three horses that ever finished ahead of New Approach in his racing career. As mentioned before it was the number one ranked turf horse of the world Duke Of Marmalade - and Phoenix Tower - in the Juddmonte International Stakes who bettered him on that one day. His other conqueror - on two separate occasions - was Aidan O’Brien’s champion miler Henrythenavigator, who defeated him in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. At each defeat the winner of the race was a champion horse from Ballydoyle.
It was only last Monday that trainer Jim Bolger was lobbying Sheikh Mohammed in the press with his confident assertions that New Approach could ‘go unbeaten at four’ if allowed to continue his racing career.
"I would think that it will come down to how badly Sheikh Mohammed [who bought New Approach before his three-year-old season] needs him at stud. He has a lot of mares, and he might well be anxious to get on with his stud career.”
"I would presume that the final decision will be made some time after Saturday's race when we have seen how he performs, but my impression from various conversations that I have had over the year is that he will probably be retired." - Jim Bolger.
"He is the finest horse beyond a mile that I have trained and he is a true champion. When you can win a Group One with so much left in the tank it shows you how much ability the horse has. He is going to stud now and the next time you see him he will be a big burly horse." - Jim Bolger.
New Approach will stand at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. He retires with earnings in excess of £2 million and with the status of a champion and a record-breaker.
New Approach
(photo: Getty Images)
The race was set up for such an emphatic (and memorable) finish to a stellar career by the efforts of his pacemaker, Upton Grey (also owned by Princess Haya of Jordan) who controlled the race tempo for as long as he could (3 furlongs from home) before New Approach joined him and then proceeded to display his superior staying ability and dominance.
It has been a remarkable career for this chestnut son of Galileo who raced on 11 occasions, winning 8 times, and never finishing further back than 3rd in any race.
After winning the Epsom Derby in June at his first test beyond the mile, New Approach was beaten on only one other occasion when he finished 3rd behind Duke Of Marmalade - with Phoenix Tower running 2nd - in the Group One Juddmonte International Stakes. This was his first appearance after recovery from an injury and no disgrace under the circumstances. Phoenix Tower was expected to give New Approach his toughest test in the Champion Stakes, but he was not able to take his place after suffering a career-ending injury when scans revealed a tear to his tendon.
There were only three horses that ever finished ahead of New Approach in his racing career. As mentioned before it was the number one ranked turf horse of the world Duke Of Marmalade - and Phoenix Tower - in the Juddmonte International Stakes who bettered him on that one day. His other conqueror - on two separate occasions - was Aidan O’Brien’s champion miler Henrythenavigator, who defeated him in both the English and Irish 2,000 Guineas. At each defeat the winner of the race was a champion horse from Ballydoyle.
It was only last Monday that trainer Jim Bolger was lobbying Sheikh Mohammed in the press with his confident assertions that New Approach could ‘go unbeaten at four’ if allowed to continue his racing career.
"I would think that it will come down to how badly Sheikh Mohammed [who bought New Approach before his three-year-old season] needs him at stud. He has a lot of mares, and he might well be anxious to get on with his stud career.”
"I would presume that the final decision will be made some time after Saturday's race when we have seen how he performs, but my impression from various conversations that I have had over the year is that he will probably be retired." - Jim Bolger.
"He is the finest horse beyond a mile that I have trained and he is a true champion. When you can win a Group One with so much left in the tank it shows you how much ability the horse has. He is going to stud now and the next time you see him he will be a big burly horse." - Jim Bolger.
New Approach will stand at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket. He retires with earnings in excess of £2 million and with the status of a champion and a record-breaker.
New Approach to stand at Darley
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