New Approach on Haya level as Sheik Mohammed moves in

13 April 2012

Sheik Mohammed further strengthened his grip on next year's Classic generation by securing the remaining 50 per cent share available in Jim Bolger's unbeaten juvenile New Approach.

As short as 7-4 favourite for the 2,000 Guineas and just 3-1 for the Epsom Derby, the son of Galileo will stay under Bolger's wing but is to the carry the colours of Mohammed's wife, Princess Haya, of Jordan, into battle next season.

Home and hosed: New Approach (right) wins the Dewhurst

Sheik Mohammed, who has bought out Bolger's wife, Jackie, to secure the deal, first got involved with New Approach when purchasing a 50 per cent share in early September.

Following that transaction, which included breeding rights, New Approach went on to land the Group One National Stakes at The Curragh before extending his unbeaten record to five when seeing off Fast Company in the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket in October.

This latest deal means that Sheik Mohammed either owns, or has a major interest in, the first five in the betting for next year's 2,000 Guineas in May as well as a serious hold on the Derby next June.

Fast Company, Ibn Khaldun and Rio De La Plata will all run for Godolphin in 2008, while he holds a half share in John Gosden's Raven's Pass.

Win, lose or draw, with these purchases next year, the Sheik can look forward to strengthening his stallion base in the continuing rivalry with Coolmore.

This will be particularly acute in Ireland, where New App-roach is likely to stand next to another Darley purchase, Teofilio, at Kildangan Stud in Kildare.

John Ferguson, racing advisor to Sheik Mohammed said: 'New Approach will run in the colours of Princess Haya next year but he will remain with Jim Bolger. It's too early to be talking about targets.'

The Sheik's Godolphin operation also also revealed yesterday they had also bought Regal Flush, an excellent fourth to Lucarno in the St Leger at Doncaster in September.

Formerly owned by Cheveley Park Stud, Regal Flush will join fellow Godolphin purchase Sagara, the French colt who was third to Dylan Thomas in the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in October.

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