Magician: Irish 2,000 Guineas winner impressed Jim Bolger, PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos)
BY PAUL EACOTT5:48PM 27 MAY 2013
DAWN APPROACH could face his biggest challenge in Saturday’s Investec Derby from another 2,000 Guineas winner believes his trainer Jim Bolger.
Epsom SATURDAY, 01 JUNE 2013, INVESTEC DERBY (Group 1) (Entire Colts & Fillies) (CLASS 1) (3yo
Distance: 1m4f10y, Going: Good
£1,250,000 guaranteed For 3yo, entire colts and fillies Weights colts.9st; fillies 8st 11lb pay £ 500 pay £ 2500
| NO. DRAW | HORSE | AGE | WGT | TRAINER RTF% | JOCKEY | OR | TS | RPR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 111-11 | Battle Of Marengo20 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 109 | 130 | |
| 2 | 21-1 | Chopin41 | 3 | 9-0 | A Wohler | — | — | 128 | |
| 3 | 1111-1 | Dawn Approach28 | 3 | 9-0 | J S Bolger53 | — | 132 | 141 | |
| 4 | 51-3 | Festive Cheer20  |
3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 79 | 124 | |
| 5 | 3114-5 | First Cornerstone7 | 3 | 9-0 | A Oliver33 | — | 100 | 126 | |
| 6 | 127-96 | Flying The Flag7 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 111 | 122 | |
| 7 | 15-3 | Galileo Rock36 | 3 | 9-0 | David Wachman67 | — | 104 | 119 | |
| 8 | 141 | Libertarian16 | 3 | 9-0 | Mrs K Burke67 | — | 108 | 128 | |
| 9 | 217-11 | Magician7 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 118 | 137 | |
| 10 | 1-6 | Mars28 | 3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 92 | 120 | |
| 11 | 5137-1 | Mirsaale38  |
3 | 9-0 | James Tate100 | Neil Callan | — | 105 | 118 |
| 12 | 64-998 | Ocean Applause38 | 3 | 9-0 | John Ryan33 | — | 57 | 99 | |
| 13 | 1-11 | Ocovango28 | 3 | 9-0 | A Fabre | — | 89 | 126 | |
| 14 | 11 | Ruler Of The World23  |
3 | 9-0 | A P O´Brien58 | — | 113 | 127 | |
| 15 | 115-23 | Trading Leather7 | 3 | 9-0 | J S Bolger53 | — | 120 | 126 | |
| The Godolphin-owned colt’s position at the head of the market for the Epsom Classic has continued to harden since his win in the Guineas at Newmarket at the start of the month, but Magician looks like he could have emerged as a serious contender after his romp in the Irish equivalent on Saturday. | |||||||||
Aidan O’Brien had initially suggested that the Derby could come too soon for the Galileo colt but the vibes since have suggested he could make an audacious bid for two Classics in a week.
Coral make Magician their 9-2 second favourite after 15 were left in the race on Monday and Bolger said: “I thought Magician’s performance on Saturday was very smart.”
Bolger has also left Trading Leather, third to Magician on Saturday, in the Derby but he said: “Trading Leather has been left in the Investec Derby as a precaution. If anything were to happen to Dawn Approach, I would run Trading Leather.
“Dawn Approach is continuing to please me and I am looking forward to running him in the Investec Derby at Epsom Downs on Saturday.”
Coral’s David Stevens said: “Dawn Approach remains odds-on favourite for the Investec Derby, but his closest challenger in the betting could turn out to be a fellow 2,000 Guineas winner in Magician.
“If the latter makes a quick reappearance on Saturday, Joseph O’Brien’s decision on who he rides could well determine whether Magician or Battle Of Marengo starts clear second favourite to the Godolphin colt.”
fonte: RacingPost
