England: Wise Approach overcomes stumble for dramatic Middle Park victory

Favorites won the three group stakes for 2-year-olds Saturday at Newmarket Racecourse in England – Wise Approach in most dramatic fashion.

Wise Approach clipped heels and stumbled about two strides into the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes, spotting his rivals some five lengths, but still surged to win by three-quarters of a length.

The odds-on favorite, Wise Approach exited a third-place finish in the Group 1 Prix Morny, contested, like the Middle Park, over a straight six furlongs. In that start, Wise Approach moved boldly to the lead with a furlong remaining but waited on two rivals, leading trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey William Buick to plot different tactics in the Middle Park. The plan Saturday was to break slowly, hold Wise Approach up in last, and make one late run. The plan did not call for a significant stumble.

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With a quarter mile remaining, Wise Approach had sidled into contention, and, much the best, he sustained his run through the uphill finish in the Middle Park. Brussels finished second, a nose in front of Coppull. Wise Approach, who cost owner Godolphin more than $1 million at auction, is by Mehmas out of Sagely, by Frozen Power, and Appleby suggested the colt wouldn’t start again this year.

True Love, who came through as a less formidable favorite in the Group 1 Cheveley Park for fillies, could well start again in 2025, likely in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf, where she would try for the same double that her stablemate Lake Victoria pulled a year ago. Wayne Lordan riding for trainer Aidan O’Brien, True Love raced prominently from the start of the six-furlong Chevely Park, Lordan riding a very patient race, holding his mount until about a furlong remained, whereupon True Love took care of business.

True Love finished second last month as the odds-on favorite in the Group 1 Phoenix Stakes in Ireland, and while connections wonder whether she can get a European mile, a short-stretch, two-turn mile at Del Mar could suit the filly. True Love is by No Nay Never out of Alluringly, by Fastnet Rock.

Havana Anna finished second, three-quarters of a length in front of third-place Royal Fixation, the latter another Breeders’ Cup candidate. True Love clocked 1:11 over good-to-firm going, slightly faster than Wise Approach’s 1:11.11.

In the Group 2 Royal Lodge over a straight mile, Bow Echo ran his record to 3 for 3 with a one-length tally over Humidity. Traveling smoothly from the start under jockey Billy Loughnane, Bow Echo was kept behind cover while in hand until a little less than a quarter-mile of racing remained, surging to the front and holding firm through the closing stages while failing to increase his lead. Trained by George Boughey, Bow Echo is by Night of Thunder out of Aristocratic Lady, by Invincible Spirit.

While Bow Echo probably won’t start again until the 2000 Guineas in May, runner-up Humidity could have Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf aspirations, according to trainer Andrew Balding.

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