RACING/CURRAGH:JIM BOLGER has decided against running Dawn Approach in the Keeneland Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh tomorrow as he feels ground conditions will be unsuitable.
The unbeaten juvenile was last seen landing the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and would have been a warm order had he stepped up to Group One level for the first time this weekend.
Bolger said yesterday: “I don’t think the ground will be suitable for him on Sunday. The signs are that the weather is going to improve and I would hope conditions will be suitable for him to run in the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh in a fortnight’s time.”
Bolger will still be represented in the six-furlong contest by Wexford Opera and Leitir Mor, but neither may trouble the Aidan O’Brien-trained Cristoforo Colombo.
O’Brien has saddled 11 previous winners of the Phoenix Stakes and is this year represented by Coventry third Cristoforo Colombo, the hat-trick-seeking Parliament Square and Pedro The Great.
O’Brien’s son, Joseph, will get the leg-up on Cristoforo Colombo, who was beaten by Probably in the Railway Stakes on his latest start. He said: “The ground was very bad the last day and he just got caught close home by Probably.
“The ground should be better this weekend, hopefully, and the more it dries out, the better for him. He ran a very good race at Ascot.
“Dawn Approach obviously doesn’t run on Sunday, but I wouldn’t have minded taking him on again as I got stuck on my own down the middle of the track in the Coventry, which didn’t help us.”
Of the two other challengers from Ballydoyle, O’Brien jnr said: “Parliament Square won his maiden in Fairyhouse well and then won snug enough in a five-furlong Listed race at Tipperary. He’s improving and should run well.
“Pedro The Great disappointed in the same race we ran Cristoforo Colombo in the last day.”
Bungle Inthejungle won the Group Three Molecomb Stakes over five furlongs at Glorious Goodwood last week and steps up in class and trip, but may just come up short against Cristoforo Colombo.