Bolger clearly has the right approach
Bolger, it’s hard to believe, is now 70 years of age, but is living proof that age is a mere triviality and seems to be as a fit and fresh as he’s ever been.
The latest star to emerge from the Coolcullen base is Dawn Approach (above right), who will put his considerable reputation on the line at Royal Ascot later this month.
He is now unbeaten in three races, producing his best performance when taking a Listed event at Naas on Monday.
I’ve seen words like unspectacular and workmanlike to describe the latest success and you really do wonder at times what some scribes are looking for, or at.
There was absolutely nothing at all unspectacular or workmanlike about this, it was well nigh perfect and hugely impressive.
To my eyes, he was doing, perhaps, three quarter speed against a really fast horse in Richard Hannon’s Mister Marc.
And the manner in which Dawn Approach was able to maintain the furious pace and then shoot clear up that punishing Naas hill was actually quite spectacular.
An end-to-end gallop always tells us exactly what we need to know and there was no hiding place.
Dawn Approach eventually beat Mister Marc by two and three quarter lengths and there were nice gaps back along the line.
Bolger is sure to make the right decision when it comes to the horse’s target at Royal Ascot.
The indications are that it will be the seven furlongs Chesham Stakes, rather than the furlong shorter Coventry Stakes.
I certainly hope that will be the case, because with the blend of speed and staying power which Dawn Approach possesses he will surely be one for the maximum, as far us punters are concerned.
When it became clear — there was no formal announcement — that Joseph O’Brien had been catapulted into the position as first jockey to Coolmore-Ballydoyle it seemed a case of nepotism in its worst form.
But the youngster hasn’t half risen to the considerable challenge and those who might have something to say about it are keeping their heads down and remaining silent, at least for the moment.
The 19-year-old has come a long, long way indeed, in a very short period of time, and appears to be particularly comfortable alongside the likes of Moore, Murtagh and Hughes, who have spent years building up enormous reputations.
A horse like Camelot, ridden by a teenager, has the capacity to reach out far beyond the normal horizons of racing and that can only be a good thing.
On the subject of Camelot, this from a big admirer of the horse, there is a danger of him being savagely over-hyped.
We know he’s a cracker and a potential champion, but the real tests have yet to come for the son of Montjeu.
He reminded you of Galileo the way he won the Epsom Derby last Saturday and that is high praise indeed.
But beating Main Sequence and Astrology by five lengths and a short head was just about what many expected from him.
After all, he went into the contest rated 15lbs a better horse than Main Sequence and 8lbs superior to Astrology.
No, as my press-room colleague remarked at the Curragh recently, we won’t really know about Camelot until he takes on the older horses.
It was insightful prior to Epsom and, truth to tell, is even closer to the truth now.
As one who has great respect for the opinion of National Hunt handicapper, Noel O’Brien, I was mildly surprised when he only raised Brendan Duke’s Mister Benedictine by 10lbs, after the horse had won in a canter — by six lengths — at Ballinrobe.
Mister Benedictine then went to Kilbeggan last Sunday, under a fixed 6lbs penalty, so had a theoretical 4lbs in hand.
It wasn’t a lot and raised doubts in your mind that he wasn’t the certainty you originally thought.
Mister Benedictine, of course, hardly broke sweat to score by nine lengths at Kilbeggan and you just knew Mister O’Brien wasn’t going to sit idly by, so to speak, a second time.
His reaction was to move the horse up another 11lbs, so that’s 21lbs in total for the two victories. Bet Mister Benedictine won’t be winning again any time soon!
During the two days at Listowel last weekend a travelling headman came into the press-room to watch a race.
A horse from his stable duly obliged and our man seemed utterly baffled by the outcome. “He’s f… useless’, he muttered. Hate to be training those who finished behind!
