Handicappers take cautious approach

NEW Approach has been rated 3lb higher than his former stablemate and last year’s top European two-year-old Teofilo on account of his victory in a better-quality renewal of the Dewhurst Stakes.

Trainer Jim Bolger’s remarkable achievement of producing the leading juvenile in consecutive seasons has slightly eased the blow of Teofilo never making a Classic campaign because of injury.

New Approach has been awarded a rating of 126 in the official European rankings but is still only 1lb ahead of Dewhurst runner-up Fast Company, who made up a vast amount of ground at Newmarket and has subsequently moved from Brian Meehan to Godolphin.

“The last European two-year-old to be rated higher than New Approach was Xaar (1997) following a rating he got from beating Tamarisk by seven lengths in the Dewhurst,” said the British two-year-old handicapper Matthew Tester.

“Fast Company was just half a length behind. But to compare with last year’s Dewhurst, Teofilo and Holy Roman Emperor were two and a half lengths clear of Strategic Prince and Haatef.

“This year, there were two and a half lengths back to Raven’s Pass and Rio De La Plata.

“No disrespect to Strategic Prince and Haatef, but there is no doubt they are not as good as Raven’s Pass and Rio De La Plata, which is why New Approach is rated 3lb higher.”

Senior Irish Flat handicapper Garry O’Gorman went as far as describing Teofilo as “a monster” at the London press conference to announce the rankings last year, but decided to be a little more restrained this time.

“New Approach and Teofilo have the same trainer and sire (Galileo) and ran in the same five races,” he said.

“It is not to say one is better than the other, it is a reflection of the calibre of the opponents.

“New Approach achieved higher ratings than Teofilo in the Futurity Stakes, the National and the Dewhurst as he seemed to be beating slightly better horses.

“I was very bullish about Teofilo last year. I am not going to use the ’m’ word again this year but I must say most progeny on the dam’s side are better at three, so it was still unusual to see New Approach being so precocious and he should get better.”

Tester did however issue a note of caution.

“New Approach has been a great credit to his trainer as he is clearly not a straightforward horse and in lesser hands he would not have achieved what he has already.

“There might be a day where it does not work out, and Mr Bolger is going to need all of his skills.