Dawn Approach Colt Edges Competitive Leopardstown Maiden

1st-Leopardstown, €17,500, Mdn, 5-25, 2yo, 7fT, 1:31.21, g/f.
BOLD APPROACH (IRE) (c, 2, Dawn Approach (Ire)#tot">Dawn Approach {Ire}–Excuse Me, by Distorted Humor), a 13-2 shot, was always handy behind the leading duo. Driven to gain the advantage with a furlong remaining, the bay saw it out strongly to record a 1 1/4-length success from California Daddy (Scat Daddy) in what could prove a decent maiden. Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), the full-brother to Highland Reel (Ire) and Idaho (Ire), was in line with the winner for most of this but could not pick up and finished seventh. Bold Approach, who is the first 2-year-old winner of 2018 for Jim Bolger, is owned by a newcomer as his breeder and trainer explained. “He's owned by Sam McCauley who lives on Rectory Road in Enniscorthy and this is his first flat horse,” he told Irish Racing.com. “I think he's a very nice horse and he's a great looker. He's easier to manage than his sire and has his guts. There are two big seven-furlong races on his agenda, the National Stakes and the Dewhurst, and whatever comes inbetween.” The dam, who was fast enough to set a track record over an extended mile at Delaware Park, is a half to the GSP Imitation (Grand Slam) and El Ballezano (French Deputy) whose unraced dam is a full-sibling of the Niarchos Family's G1 Coronation S. heroine Magic of Life (Seattle Slew). She in turn produced the classy juvenile Enthused (Seeking the Gold) who captured the G2 Lowther S. and G3 Princess Margaret S. for the same operation. Excuse Me also has a yearling full-sister to the winner. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $12,636. Video, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
O-Rectory Road Holdings Limited & Mrs J S Bolger; B/T-Jim Bolger (IRE).