Rio de la Plata is entered.....

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

you and i saw different races, thats for sure. I didn't see an easy, almost effortless victory. it sounds like you and even the commentators are going ga-ga over this one. I just don't see it. it was for me just okay, rather ordinary.

Were you watching with your eyes shut?

He set a strong pace, which should have suited the closers. He was bustled up with a couple of Aidan O'Brien horses, but he fought them off and kept pulling out more and more. Rio De La Plata had every chance but was not good enough.

Didn't you see Kevin Manning drop his hands and begin to ease him before the line? If a horse getting eased before the line isn't a good victory, what do you expect? To see him power away and win 12 lengths?

I'm sure if you were to see him close up you'll see what an achievement it is for him to be this good as a 2yo, he isn't made to be a 2yo and he certainly isn't bred to make a 2yo.

I can assure you that whatever he does this year, he will be at least twice as good next year. He is a big, unfurnished colt.

The further he goes the better he will be. If that race was over a mile yesterday he would have won about 3 1/2 lengths.

He is far from ordinary...... that is for sure. He has beaten Rio De La Plata and Myboycharlie comfortably, now if that is just "ordinary" form you really need to lower your standards.

[NoChanceToDance]

The Racing Post report............ (only just remembered i hadn't posted this yet)

by Tony O'Hehir


A HUGE season for Jim Bolger and Kevin Manning reached a new high on Sunday when New Approach powered his way to victory in a vintage renewal of the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh and ended the day as clear favourite for the Stan James 2,000 Guineas.

New Approach is 4-1 favourite from 6-1 with the Guineas sponsors. Ladbrokes and Cashmans are also 4-1 (from 8-1 and 10-1 respectively) while William Hill go 9-2 (from 7-1). However the Tote are as short as 11-4 (from 5-1).

Now unbeaten in four starts, New Approach has followed the same path successfully taken by his stablemate Teofilo last year by adding victory in Sunday's Bank of Scotland (Ireland)-sponsored event to his wins in a Curragh maiden, the Group 3 Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown and the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh last month.

Teofilo, retired early last month due to a knee problem which prevented him from racing this year, wound up his unbeaten juvenile campaign in the Dewhurst Stakes but, after Sunday's one-and-three-quarter length win from Rio De La Plata, Bolger was non-committal about sending New Approach, jointly owned by his wife Jackie and Sheikh Mohammed, to Newmarket next month.

Bolger said: "We will play it by ear. Last year the Dewhurst had the edge in prestige over today's race and after winning the National Stakes Teofilo went there to make sure he would be European champion. It's a different story this year. This is the place and the race this year and there won't be the same urgency or need to send New Approach to Newmarket.

"We will wait a few weeks as there is no hurry to decide. We're talking about a whole new ball game this year. All the young stars were here today and this was one hell of a race."

New Approach made all the running on ground which was changed from good to firm to good following one hour of rain before racing, and he galloped on strongly to see off his highly regarded rivals.

The previously unbeaten Myboycharlie, winner of the Prix Morny, finishing one and three-quarter lengths behind Rio De La Plata in third with Lizard Island, runner-up to Rio De La Plata in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood, one and a half lengths back in fourth.

While the race went smoothly for the winner, the preliminaries did not.
Despite being hooded, he refused to enter the parade ring before the race and went straight to the start, accompanied by a lead horse ridden by Bolger's assistant Adrian Taylor.
Bolger's explanation to the stewards, that every effort had been made to get the colt into the ring but that it had it improved impossible to do so as New Approach was reluctant to walk under the arch linking the pre-parade ring to the parade ring, was accepted.

"He was here early today and walked through the arch without any problem. But it was a different story when we asked him to do it before the race because of all the people who were about and trying to get close to him," Bolger said.

Looking forward to next season Bolger said: "He's bred for the Derby trip and he has the pace to do whatever you want to do with him in a race."

Asked if he harboured the same Guineas-Derby hopes he held for Teofilo a year ago, Bolger: "We didn't expect lightning to strike twice, but, yes, we will be looking at the Guineas and the Derby."

For Manning who with his father-in-law has enjoyed an excellent campaign involving two Classic wins with Finsceal Beo, two Group 1 wins with Saoirse Abu, the Goffs Fillies Million with Lush Lashes and Sunday's big race success, the National Stakes winner has everything.

He said: "He has a serious horse with loads of pace and the ability to find plenty when you ask him. He shied from something just after half-way but apart from that it was all pretty straight forward. He is very good."

Simon Crisford, racing manager for Godolphin, said of Rio De La Plata: "It was a very good race and he's run very well. I'd imagine the Dewhurst will be next for him."

Fozzy Stack, assistant to his father, Tommy, trainer of Myboycharlie said: "He got shuffled back a bit in the first half of the race which left him with that bit more to do. But the winner is the best, there isn't much argument about that and I'd imagine that will probably be it for our fellow this season."

Asked if the Guineas route or sprinting will be pursued with the Danetime colt next year, Stack said: "He is a stuffy colt, so I'd imagine he will probably run in one of the Guineas trials and we'll make a decision when that has happened."

Famous Name, like Rio De La Plata a €30,000 supplementary entry, finished sixth and trainer Dermot Weld said afterwards: "This was the best two-year old race in Europe this year and considering it was only Famous Name's second start, I'm pleased with his run. Things happened a bit quick for him but he is learning. He will have one more run this year, in the Group 3 Killavullen Stakes at Leopardstown next month."

[ArlJim78]

Originally Posted by NoChanceToDance

Were you watching with your eyes shut?

He set a strong pace, which should have suited the closers. He was bustled up with a couple of Aidan O'Brien horses, but he fought them off and kept pulling out more and more. Rio De La Plata had every chance but was not good enough.

Didn't you see Kevin Manning drop his hands and begin to ease him before the line? If a horse getting eased before the line isn't a good victory, what do you expect? To see him power away and win 12 lengths?

I'm sure if you were to see him close up you'll see what an achievement it is for him to be this good as a 2yo, he isn't made to be a 2yo and he certainly isn't bred to make a 2yo.

I can assure you that whatever he does this year, he will be at least twice as good next year. He is a big, unfurnished colt.

The further he goes the better he will be. If that race was over a mile yesterday he would have won about 3 1/2 lengths.

He is far from ordinary...... that is for sure. He has beaten Rio De La Plata and Myboycharlie comfortably, now if that is just "ordinary" form you really need to lower your standards.

the dropping of the hands occurred so close to the wire as to be meaningless, like 15 yards or or so. only when he was finally sure that he wasn't going to be caught.

what would concern me is the proceeding 1.5 furlongs which consisted of near frantic urging by the rider and I lost count of the number of cracks of the whip that were used to seal this "comfortable" victory. the rider appeared anything but confident or comfortable until he hit the wire.

as someone else pointed out he has an odd head movement that you have to think causes some loss of efficiency.

what I saw was a horse that was clearly the best that day, but not such a stand-out that its inconcievable that the tables won't be turned on him this year or next.

we'll have to see.

[NoChanceToDance]

Originally Posted by ArlJim78

the dropping of the hands occurred so close to the wire as to be meaningless, like 15 yards or or so. only when he was finally sure that he wasn't going to be caught.

what would concern me is the proceeding 1.5 furlongs which consisted of near frantic urging by the rider and I lost count of the number of cracks of the whip that were used to seal this "comfortable" victory. the rider appeared anything but confident or comfortable until he hit the wire.

as someone else pointed out he has an odd head movement that you have to think causes some loss of efficiency.

what I saw was a horse that was clearly the best that day, but not such a stand-out that its inconcievable that the tables won't be turned on him this year or next.

we'll have to see.

If you think that is frantic urging, you really need to watch more european racing. Our jocks are not as motionless as the jocks in the States, which often leads to many differences in opinions across the Atlantic. Believe me, as far as Kevin Manning is concerned, that was an easy ride for him.

Rio De La Plata was giving his best and didn't manage to close much of a gap. After speaking to his work rider today with a friend of mine he doesn't think his colt will get anywhere near New Approach this year or next.

Is attitude is a slight concern, but remember George Washington, he was just the same and he was one of the easiest 2,000 Guineas winners that i have ever seen.

I have to keep watching the replay to make sure i'm not missing anything, but each time i watch it, the easier the win looks. Remember, this wasn't just some maiden, this was the best two year old race of the year so far and might well be the best two year old race we have seen by the end of the season too.

Rio De La Plata has looked like a brilliant horse before Sunday, but New Approach could have beaten him three lengths, and if that was over a mile it would have been about five lengths.

[my miss storm cat]

RIO IN LINE FOR LONGCHAMP


By Tom Peacock, PA Sport


Fresh from the success of Ramonti in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, the Godolphin outfit could seek more Group One glory with Rio De La Plata in France next Sunday.

The Rahy colt ran a big race to chase home the unbeaten New Approach at the Curragh in the National Stakes and is now under consideration for the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (Grand Criterium) on Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe day.

Godolphin racing manager Simon Crisford said: "He might run next Sunday in France as long as the ground is all right. We will need to take a look at that first."

Rio De La Plata, who also holds an entry in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on October 20, is a best-priced 10-1 with Ladbrokes and Coral for the Stan James 2000 Guineas.

[NoChanceToDance]

They do need to strike while the iron is hot with this fella. I'm not sure if there will be any improvement in him as a 3yo. It wouldn't surprise me to see him run in France and in the Dewhurst. He is one of the top five 2yo colts in Europe this year.

[my miss storm cat]

Possible for the Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp this weekend.....

[NoChanceToDance]

Lets hope they have actually got him ready for the race unlike Ibn Khaldun on Saturday.......