 New Approach has sealed three Group One victories this season |
Derby winner New Approach has been retired after his stunning victory in the Champion Stakes at Newmarket. The 2008 Derby winner sealed his fifth Group One triumph of his career when he romped to a six-length victory ahead of Twice Over and Linngari on Saturday. Afterwards trainer Jim Bolger said New Approach, who won in a course-record time, had run his final race. "It was his last run and he has done everything right and it is all over now," said Bolger. "He even stood in the unsaddling enclosure when we put the saddle on and he didn't move. "He was as near as to perfect as you could get going to the start and he was bombproof during the race. "He is the finest horse beyond a mile that I have trained. He was in super form coming up to this week and I couldn't have been happier with him."  | Everything went according to plan I am very pleased with him Winning jockey Kevin Manning |
New Approach took over from pacemaker Upton Grey three furlongs from home and soon began to pull away from the field. The pre-race favourite is the first horse since Sir Ivor in 1968 to be victorious at Epsom and Newmarket. And he is only the third horse in history to complete the Dewhurst, Derby and Champion Stakes treble. "He was very impressive today - I think that was his best performance," said winning jockey Kevin Manning. "I get the easy job, I'm only on him for 10 minutes but fair credit to the boys in the yard and trainer Jim Bolger, they are with him all the time and put all the work in," added Manning. "It went perfect, the pace horse Upton Grey set a great pace and took me along really well and everything went according to plan I am very pleased with him." Twice Over's trainer Henry Cecil was philosophical in defeat as Champion Stakes hope Phoenix Tower was retired earlier this week after suffering a career-ending injury. | 606: DEBATE |
"I think Phoenix Tower would have given New Approach a race, but I don't know whether he would have beaten him or not," said Cecil. "Phoenix Tower was four or five lengths better than Twice Over ahead of this race - but unfortunately he wasn't here. "I'm delighted with Twice Over, though, he was a really good second. "He ran a great race, although he could have done with more give in the ground. The winner was very good - better, I think, than he was on the July course." Sir Michael Stoute was pleased to see Linngari finish in the money - but accepted New Approach was a different class. "He's a good, honest horse and is a model of consistency," he said. "But ideally, he'd have been suited by a bit of rain. "Linngari has been given an entry at Hong Kong but it's too early to say. The winner was super, though." Earlier, Intense Focus gave Bolger a third successive victory in a thrilling Dewhurst Stakes. The 20-1 chance, ridden by Manning, was always close to the pace and took the lead inside the final furlong. And although runner-up Lord Shanakill and third-placed Finjaan tried to claw him back late on, Intense Focus was narrowly in front at the line. Last year's runner-up Caracciola became the first 11-year-old to win the Cesarewitch, the 50-1 shot coming home ahead of Arc Bleu and Mamlook.
Champion Stakes:
1 New Approach (K J Manning) 6-5 Fav
2 Twice Over (T P Queally) 8-1
3 Linngari (R L Moore) 12-1
11 ran. Dist 6, 1½ Dewhurst Stakes:
1 Intense Focus (K J Manning) 20-1
2 Lord Shanakill (Jim Crowley) 12-1
3 Finjaan (R Hills) 20-1
13 ran. Dist ns, ns Cesarewitch:
1 Caracciola (E Ahern) 50-1
2 Arc Bleu (J Murtagh) 15-2
3 Mamlook (R L Moore) 10-1
4 Askar Tau (Martin Dwyer) 7-2 Fav
32 ran. Dist 3, nk, 5
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