Friday 16th January 2009
Emirates Airline Champion Stakes’ star is rated world champ
New Approach powers to a famous win in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes
THE STATUS of the prestigious Emirates Airline Champion Stakes this week received a further boost as its latest winner New Approach was named the world champion turf horse in the 2008 World Thoroughbred Rankings.
The classifications are an annual league table of top horses rated 115 or above and is put together by a panel of international handicappers.
Trainer Jim Bolger’s charge smashed the track record on The NatWest Rowley Mile in the Champions’ Day showpiece last October as he powered to a stunning six-length triumph.
Given a mark of 124 for his previous Derby win, New Approach ran to a figure of 130 at Newmarket according to the assessors. This rating placed him equal top with American dirt superstar Curlin.
Speaking in the Racing Post, Bolger said: “It’s very good news, but then training champions is something we’ve got used to here at Coolcullen.”
Newmarket’s Director of racing Michael Prosser also paid tribute to the brilliant New Approach, who was retired at the end of his three-year-old campaign and is now set to embark on a secondary career as a Darley stallion.
Prosser said: “"New Approach's performance in the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes was the defining one of his career. He surpassed his Derby display and underlined just what a magnificent horse he was. His victory effort also served to re-emphasise that the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes is a truly world-class event”
New Approach also finished a narrowly beaten second at Newmarket in the Stan James-sponsored 2000 Guineas to Henrythenavigator, with subsequent Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Raven‘s Pass back in fourth
In the World Thoroughbred Rankings, Raven‘s Pass was third behind New Approach and Curlin, while Henrythenavigator was in a share of sixth spot.
The rankings, therefore, substantiate just how strong a race last year’s 2000 Guineas was.
