Dawn breaks Curragh rivals

Dawn Approach powers to glory at the Curragh

Dawn Approach made it five out of five as he won the Group 1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien Stakes at the Curragh.

Flying The Flag went off alone at a scorching pace for the first half of the race and was around 15 lengths clear but then started to tread water badly inside the final quarter.

The pack on the stands' side started to close with the eventual winner - sent off the 2-5 favourite - driven to the front approaching the distance by Kevin Manning.

Running in the first-time Godolphin colours, he was unchallenged in the closing stages to beat Designs On Rome by five lengths and strengthen his place at the head of the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas at Newmarket.

He is 6-1 from 8-1 for that race with Sky Bet and he has also been trimmed from 16s down to 12s for the Derby at Epsom.

Worry

Trainer Jim Bolger said: "I was a little apprehensive of the ground coming into today, but after that I wouldn't be worried about running on ground a little worse.

"They went a really good pace and he quickened up really well, so he'd have to be right up there with the very best of them (that he has trained).

"He's grown three-quarters of an inch since Royal Ascot and he was about 12 kilos heavier today.

"You'd always have a concern with a Ballydoyle horse (so far in front), they are so well bred.

"Thankfully it all worked out for us.

"The Dewhurst is the plan and hopefully everything will go well in the meantime.

"The agreement (when Godolphin purchased the colt) was I would have him until after the Dewhurst and we would sit down and talk about it after that. Obviously I would be hoping Sheikh Mohammed leaves him with me but if he doesn't I can't complain.

"He's very much a Classic miler.''

• 2000 Guineas. Click here to bet.