Racing: Bolger's New Approach gallops to top of 2,000 Guineas market

Lightning is supposed not to strike in the same place twice, but don't tell that to Jim Bolger. Twelve months ago the Co Carlow-based trainer won the Futurity Stakes at the Curragh with a certain Teofilo; yesterday he took the same seven-furlong Group Two contest as anotherson of Galileo, New Approach, won his third in a row.

The new Glebe House star has taken over at the head of the 2,000 Guineas betting after a performance as good in style as substance. From the start he was harried by Aidan O'Brien's second string, Warsaw, acting as cannon fodder for Henrythenavigator, but remained unfazed. Two furlongs out, Kevin Manning changed his hands on the 8-11 favourite and asked for more as the Ballydoyle No 1, at 11-10, drew closer. The response was instant and decisive.

Tall, scopey New Approach lengthened and quickened, and readily drew three lengths clear. The smaller, more compact Henrythenavigator, probably less suited by the soft ground, chased unavailingly and was caught on the line for second by 40-1 shot Curtain Call.

New Approach's enthusiasm was evident in the difficulty Manning had in pulling him up, and Bolger paid the chestnut, who cost €430,000 (£291,780) as a yearling, a considerable compliment. "He's Secretariat," he said, referring to the best horse ever to race in the States, "but without the blinkers. He has tons of ability, with a terrific way of galloping, is easy to train, and perfectly straightforward."

New Approach has so far trod the same turf – before yesterday a maiden at the Curragh and a Group Three at Leopardstown – as Teofilo, and has the same subsequent juvenile programme pencilled in, the Group One pair of the National and Dewhurst Stakes.

It is not too fanciful to imaginethat a pair of future Classic winners were on display yesterday; at Goodwood the filly Sense Of Joy, one of the market leaders for the 1,000 Guineas, gained valuable experience as she continued her education with a cosy win in the Prestige Stakes.

Initially babyish as Richard Hughes asked her to gallop in earnest to catch Celtic Slipper, the daughter of Dansili finished to some purpose once she regained her balance, and the half-length winning margin was scant reflection of her superiority. "At this stage of her career she's still got the L-plates up," said her trainer, John Gosden. "She kept changing her legs and was in a bit of a muddle." The Fillies' Mile is now on her agenda.

In Goodwood's other feature, the Celebration Mile, the Sir Michael Stoute-trained Echelon emulated her half-sister Chic by winning the Group Two contest. The Danehill mare made it a one-two for her owners, Cheveley Park Stud, by beating Cesare.