by Tony Smurthwaite

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum’s concerted investment in classic prospects for 2008 paid a wondrous dividend on Saturday when the headstrong colt New Approach used expert handling by jockey Kevin Manning to win the $2.78-million Epsom Derby (Eng-G1).

Manning had been handed what trainer Jim Bolger termed “a monstrous task” to settle the habitual front-runner toward the back of the field amid the tumult of Derby day’s sultry heat, 100,000 racegoers, and New Approach’s singularity in being slowly “ponied” to the start to stop him from boiling over.

As it was, one of the coolest of the 16 runners down at the start for the 229th Derby was New Approach. Yet, as Manning restrained his mount in the early furlongs it was evident he was fighting a losing battle during the sprint to the top of Tattenham Hill.

Only with the 1 1/2-mile race well underway was Europe’s champion juvenile of 2007 finally anchored by Manning, albeit in 13th place as 250-to-1 outsider Maidstone Mixture led the way.

Racing downhill into Tattenham Corner, New Approach was tucked on the inner rail behind a mass of horses, so much so that attention switched to the head of the pack as Doctor Fremantle and stablemate Tartan Bearer in turn made their final thrusts.

Tartan Bearer’s run wide and late had echoes of Derby winner Authorized a year earlier but was to fade as Manning and New Approach surged up the rail having picked a way through the field to take the lead at the furlong pole.

New Approach won by a half-length, with Ballymacoll Stud’s homebred Tartan Bearer second, and Moyglare Stud Farm’s homebred Casual Conquest, the 7-to-2 favorite, 4 1/2 lengths back in third. Doctor Fremantle, running for Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms, finished another 1 1/2 lengths behind in fourth.

The winner was sporting the green and black colors of Princess Haya of Jordan, wife of Sheikh Mohammed. Both were present to welcome in a colt in whom the princess had attained a half-share from Bolger’s wife, Jackie, through his unbeaten juvenile campaign, then purchased outright before the end of the year.

The investment was one of many made by Sheikh Mohammed and his team in a headline search for colts to develop into classic contenders and thereafter stallions. But many firmly believed they would not see New Approach in the Derby based on earlier comments from Bolger.

Speaking in April, Bolger said Epsom was not on the agenda as the race did little for a horse’s stallion value, and he preferred to win the Irish Derby (Ire-G1) on June 29 at the Curragh. Not surprisingly, the odds on New Approach winning at Epsom spiraled wildly, reaching 209-to-1 with betting exchange Betfair.

It was only five days before the Derby that Bolger dropped the bombshell that he was planning a run, saying the Galileo ([Ire) colt had come out of his second-place finish in the Boylesports Irish Two Thousand Guineas (Ire-G1) in May better than anticipated.

Bolger faced strong criticism for failing to keep the public informed, and also for his claim at an earlier forfeit stage that New Approach was left in the field “by mistake.”

Speaking after New Approach’s victory, a first in the Derby for the County Carlow-based trainer, Bolger said: “There is no need to emphasize the mistake. It was the biggest I have made in a long time. But it was fortuitous and it has worked out for the best.”

The post-race press conference became heated to the point of ill-tempered as Bolger was pressed on his pre-race U-turn, though he later added: “It [winning the Derby] is very special. I thought before the race it would be up there with the best. I very willingly say [now] it is the best.”

Manning, Bolger’s son-in-law, characteristically played down his own part in the triumph.

“He took a bit of a tug early on and got further back than I would have liked,” the jockey said, “but coming down the hill I had loads of horse and just hoped the gaps would come. He’s very, very classy. To win this is every jockey’s dream.”

New Approach was bred by Seamus Burns at Lodge Park Stud in Ireland. He is out of English and Irish champion Park Express (Ire), by Ahonoora, and is a half brother to seven winners, including prominent Japan sprinter Shinko Forest and Irish Group 3 winner Dazzling Park.

Sir Michael Stoute, who saddled Tartan Bearer and two others, including Doctor Fremantle, said he thought the colt might have won.

“But I had a terrible view and I would like to see [the race] again,” he said.

Dermot Weld was pleased with Casual Conquest’s effort.
 
“The horse has done me proud,” he said. “He was obviously inexperienced but for the third ever run of his career, he has come to fruition.

“I think it was a very good Derby, and I don’t want to take anything away from the winner who is an exceptional horse.

“The next stage is probably for a rematch in the Irish Derby.”

Tony Smurthwaite, a British-based Thoroughbred Times correspondent, is a writer for Racing Post