Herald The Dawn opens his account in style

The stoutly-bred Herald The Dawn looks bound for bigger and better things after opening his account in style in at Naas yesterday.

Jim Bolger’s juvenile is a full-brother to former stable star Dawn Approach, who won twice at the County Kildare circuit during a stellar career that included four Group One triumphs.

Following an encouraging debut when runner-up at the track last month,Herald The Dawn was the 15-8 favourite to get off the mark at the second attempt and showed a sharp turn of foot to seal a two-and-a-quarter-length victory over his main market rival, London. The exciting colt holds a host of big-race entries, including the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh on August 23, but Bolger sees the youngster as a work in progress. “He is not as precocious as his brother and it will not be until next year that we seethe best of him,” said the trainer.

“He could step up in distance and we will have to have a good think about where we go next.”

Paddy Power make Herald The Dawn a 50-1 shot to follow in his sibling’s hoofprints by winning next year’s 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

There was a shock result to the opening event of the afternoon as 40-1 shot Redstaroverchina claimed top honours in the Birdcatcher Day 18th October Race.

Mick Halford’s Al Qahwa was the hot favourite to follow up an impressive display at Leopardstown, but after cutting out much of the running, he was powerless to resist Redstaroverchina’s late burst. Winning trainer Edward Lynam said: “I was talking to myself after the way she ran thefirst day but she picked up and learned today.

“We’ll look for a bit of black type now as she’s a well-bred filly. That’s my first winner for the owner so that’s good.”

Texas Rock (9-4 joint-favourite) justified market support by landing theKildare Post Rated Race for Michael Grassick, pulling clear of Ger Lyons-trained pair Greek Canyon and Joe Eile under Fran Berry.

Little Treasure was a 5-1 winner of the naasracecourse.com Maiden for trainer Willie Browne and jockey Seamie Heffernan. Browne said: “I’ve loved her from the start. She’s a breeze-up filly that got a muscle injury and it has taken quite a while to get her sound. Seamie thinks she is better than that. She cost a lot but that doesn’t make them any better. Maybe we will sell her and if not she will try to get some black type.”

David Fitzpatrick was hit with a 21-day ban after his ride on Roryslittlesister in the Panoramic Restaurant At Naas Racecourse Apprentice Handicap won by Battleroftheboyne.