New Approach took advantage of the withdrawal of Duke of Marmalade to win the $1.42 million Irish Champion Stakes at Leopardstown on Sunday with a deceptively handy half-length score over what was decidedly a subpar field in one of Europe's premier 10-furlong events.

Trained by Jim Bolger and ridden by Kevin Manning, New Approach defeated the 50-1 Traffic Guard while notching his first win since taking the Epsom Derby on June 7. His time for the 1 1/4 miles on ground rated yielding to soft in places, was 2:07.57.

Henrythenavigator was unable to cope with a phalanx of French fillies on Sunday as Goldikova beat him into fifth place in the $569,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

It was the first defeat this year for Henrythenavigator, the 11-10 favorite who had won four Group 1 miles since May.

Trainer Aidan O'Brien blamed the good to soft ground and the wide post 11 for the loss.

Saturday's card at Leopardstown, which was to have featured a clash between Duke of Marmalade and New Approach in the Irish Champion Stakes, was abandoned due to a waterlogged course. The entire program, including the Group 1 Matron Stakes, has been rescheduled for Sunday afternoon, weather permitting.

Henrythenavigator must beware of the siren songs of three of France’s best female milers on Sunday when he sails into uncharted waters in the $573,000 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp.

NEW YORK – While Curlin and Big Brown continue to avoid each other like the plague on the American front, this weekend’s action in Europe is packed with intergenerational rivalries that began as long as a month ago.

Duke of Marmalade puts his five-race winning streak in Group 1 stakes on the line at Leopardstown on Saturday when he renews his rivalry with New Approach in the 1 1/4-mile $1.45 million Irish Champion Stakes.

Just two weeks ago, Duke of Marmalade beat New Approach into third by 3 1/4 lengths in the Juddmonte International Stakes at Newmarket. Conditions this time, however, may lean toward an improved performance by New Approach, who was making his first start since winning the Epsom Derby on June 7 in the Juddmonte.

Leopardstown, Longchamp, and Baden-Baden will be the sites of major preps for Arc Weekend and the Breeders' Cup during the next two weeks, when most of the leading contenders for the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe will be running, along with a number of Breeders' Cup probables.

Corb

British bloodstock agent Tim Corby was killed in a single-car crash Wednesday night that also seriously injured his close friend, trainer Mick Channon. Corby was 63.

Doncaster's St. Leger yearling sale in England ended Thursday with downturns across the board and a message to stay positive from its managing director.

The three-day auction's results showed a drop of 14 percent in gross sales, with 401 yearlings bringing approximately $24,693,105. The average price of about $61,579 was down by 11 percent, and the median, about $47,580, fell 12 percent from last year.

The buy-back rate rose from 11 percent in 2007 to 15 percent in 2008.

Doncaster’s three-day St. Leger yearling sale in Doncaster, England, had a second day of declines Wednesday despite selling more lots for 50,000 pounds or more than at last year’s second session.

The Wednesday session sold 35 yearlings for at least 50,000 pounds (about $92,000), including nine horses for 100,000 pounds or more. Among those was the session-topping Elusive Quality colt for 145,000 pounds, or about $266,800. Last year, 28 yearlings sold for at least 50,000 pounds.