Dawn Approach hardens as Derby favourite after Libertarian Dante shock

Friday, May 17, 2013

By Tom Peacock

Dawn Approach hardened as Derby favourite after 33-1 shot Libertarian won the Dante Stakes at York yesterday.

While Libertarian did not make much of an impact in the Investec Derby market, the man allowed to smile widely was Jim Bolger, who saddled Trading Leather for second but now sees his unbeaten 2000 Guineas winner Dawn Approach as short as even-money favourite with many bookmakers.

Libertarian has always been held in high regard and showed rich promise when landing a maiden on his debut at Pontefract last month, but he would have been largely ignored due to finishing only fourth in the Sandown Classic Trial, when admittedly unlucky.

Dashing Star cut out the running with Trading Leather on his tail but the race, which has seen nine winners progress to Epsom glory, was still to develop in earnest by the two-furlong pole.

With Aidan OBrien pocketing every Derby warm-up of the last fortnight, Indian Chief was the 11-4 favourite, but the trainers son Joseph did not receive an immediate response when he had found some space and was passed by Libertarian and William Buick on his inside.

Buick had been one of the first to start pushing but his mount ended up forging a length and a quarter clear of the plucky Trading Leather, with Indian Chief three-quarters of a length further back in third.

It is a great win for the yard and everyone connected with the horse, said Karl Burke.

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Dawn Approach hardens as Derby favourite after Libertarian Dante shock