Newmarket: Reckless Abandon, Dawn Approach win Group 1 stakes

Undefeated favorites won both Group 1 races for 2-year-olds Saturday at Newmarket in England, but Reckless Abandon’s victory in the Middle Park Stakes required far more grit than it took for Dawn Approach to win the Dewhurst Stakes.

Well backed Moohaajim appeared to be slightly in front of Reckless Abandon perhaps 50 yards before the finish of the six-furlong race, and he was clearly in front again not far past the finishing post, but at the wire it was Reckless Abandon by a neck, winning for the fifth time without a defeat.

Reckless Abandon was urged to the lead in the Middle Park by jockey Gerald Mosse, setting a solid pace and just barely fending off the rally of Moohaajim, who came between horses and just missed. Longshot Gale Force Ten also was in the frame, finishing just a neck behind Moohaajim in third.

The Middle Park was a Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In race linked to the BC Juvenile Sprint, but Reckless Abandon’s trainer, Clive Cox, said afterward that his charge had made his final start of 2012.

Dawn Approach had to be pushed along by jockey Kevin Manning a quarter-mile from the finish of the Dewhurst to collar his pace-setting stablemate Leitir Mor, but it was all Dawn Approach in the final eighth-mile, as he went on to win by 2 3/4 lengths. Leitir Mor held second, giving trainer Jim Bolger a one-two sweep in the prestigious seven-furlong race, and a remarkable five Dewhurst wins in the last seven years. Bolger also trained Dawn Approach’s sire, New Approach, who won the 2007 Dewhurst.

Dawn Approach, 6 for 6 in his young career, was purchased privately this summer by Godolphin. His win Saturday made him the early favorite for the 2013 English 2000 Guineas. The Aidan O’Brien-trained George Vancouver finished a one-paced third, while previously undefeated Ashdan was a mildly disappointing fourth.