New Approach’s Masar Powers to Derby Glory

[Wandering Eyes]

In a renewal of the G1 Investec Derby to savour, it was Godolphin’s royal blue which led the way home with Masar (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}) belying odds of 16-1 to become the first to prevail in the blue riband in these silks. Always travelling smoothly alongside the 4-5 favourite Saxon Warrior (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in mid-division, the G1 2000 Guineas third went forward as soon as William Buick posed the question passing three out and he proved he stayed the mile and a half thoroughly to win by 1 1/2 lengths from Dee Ex Bee (GB) (Farhh {GB}), with Roaring Lion (Kitten’s Joy) a half length away in third. Saxon Warrior met some trouble in running, but looked unhappy on the track when in the clear and could only finish 2 1/2 lengths further behind in fourth. “It is not easy to win it,” Sheikh Mohammed simply stated as he prepared to welcome back the first Derby winner in the Godolphin silks. “It’s huge, massive,” Buick said. “This is my seventh derby ride and there were a couple of times where I was thinking is my time ever going to come, so to do it for Sheikh Mohammed and his family in the royal blue makes me very happy. He stayed the trip and travelled beautifully. He’s a very good horse and the team believed in him even though it didn’t happen for him in the Guineas.”

MASAR (IRE), 126, c, 3, by New Approach (Ire)
1st Dam: Khawlah (Ire) (Hwt. 3yo-UAE at 7-9.5f, MGSW-UAE & GSP-Eng, $1,366,175), by Cape Cross (Ire)
2nd Dam: Villarrica, by Selkirk
3rd Dam: Melikah (Ire), by Lammtarra
O/B-Godolphin (IRE); T-Charlie Appleby; J-William Buick. £34,026. Lifetime Record: G1SP-Fr, 9-4-0-3, £1,021,395.

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