Toronado beats Dawn Approach in Glorious Goodwood showdown

 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos),  BY ANDREW DIETZ3:08PM 31 JUL 2013 

THE Duel on the Downs lived up to its billing as Toronado mastered Dawn Approach at the third attempt in a memorable finish to the Sussex Stakes.

With the score two-nil to Dawn Approach after the star colt’s victories in the Qipco 2,000 Guineas and the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Richard Hannon-trained Toronado was on a retrieval mission and he did not disappoint.

			HORSE/SP	AGE	WGT	TRAINER/JOCKEY	OR	TS	RPR
«	1  7		Toronado (IRE) 11/4	3	8-13	Richard Hannon	123	*	*
						Richard Hughes
«	2  4	½	Dawn Approach (IRE) 10/11F	3	8-13	J S Bolger	124	*	*
						Kevin Manning
«	3  5	2½	Declaration Of War (USA) 7/2	4	9-7	A P O’Brien	121	*	*
						Joseph O’Brien
«	4  6	5	Trade Storm 33/1	5	9-7	David Simcock	115	*	*
						Jamie Spencer
«	5  3	1½	Gregorian (IRE) 18/1	4	9-7	John Gosden	115	*	*
						William Buick
«	6  1	4	Leitir Mor (IRE) 200/1	3	8-13 tp	J S Bolger	109	*	*
						Ronan Whelan
«	7  2	16	Reply (IRE) 200/1	4	9-7 v	A P O’Brien	106	*	*
						Seamie Heffernan

26 ran TIME 1m 36.29s (fast by 0.71s) Total SP 110%
1st OWNER: HE Sh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani BRED: Paul Nataf TRAINER: Richard Hannon
2nd OWNER: Godolphin
3rd OWNER: Mrs J Magnier & Michael Tabor & Derrick Smith & Joseph Allen
TOTE toteswingers 1&2 £1.10, 1&3 £1.30, 2&3 £1.10 WIN £3.20 PL £1.80, £1.40; Ex £6.80; CSF £5.21 TRIFECTA £15.10 Pool: £30,968.66 – 1535.73 winning units.

As Dawn Approach hit the front and kept responding to Kevin Manning’s urgings, Richard Hughes waited patiently on the inside of the 10-11 favourite before delivering a late charge to hit the line first, winning at odds of 11-4 by a comfortable half length.

Kevin Manning was later slapped with a four-day whip ban for his ride on the favourite, to be served from August 14.

The unwavering faith connections have shown in Toronado has been a common theme this season and they were finally rewarded as the son of High Chaparral claimed his first Group 1 victory.

Hannon said: “Revenge is sweet, I suppose, but they are two good horses. Richard Hughes said the other morning in work that he was the best he has ever ridden. You know, with Canford Cliffs and everything, we have had some good horses, but he is very good.”
 
Hughes added: “It’s very sweet. Just when I kicked him in the belly, he’s not as instant on that ground as he would have been on fast ground. It was a great race and, when I didn’t go by him quickly I thought oh no here we go again but he was very brave. He’s brilliant.
 
“It was a true race and I was always travelling well. It was just when I went to go, it wasn’t quite as instant as it is in the mornings. I would like to thank Sheikh Joaan for letting me ride him.”

In the immediate aftermath of the race attentions turned to the possibility of the two heavyweight three-year-olds clashing again, although Dawn Approach’s trainer Jim Bolger would not be drawn on a next target.

“It was a top performance,” he said. “We were just beaten by a better horse on the day.

“I’m not concerned with a rematch. We still have to figure out exactly where we go from here. Whatever turns up, turns up. There are a couple of possibilities but time will tell all. I had hoped to do the Jacques Le Marois as well but we’ll see how he comes out of it. It could be a bit soon.”

On Toronado’s future, assistant trainer Richard Hannon jnr said: “We’ll see how he comes out of this but the Jacques Le Marois and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes are the obvious races.
 
“He’ll stick to a mile this year but he’ll stay in training next season when perhaps he could step up to ten furlongs at some point.”

fonte: RacingPost