Ten years after New Approach landed the Derby at Epsom, on Saturday, 2 June his hugely talented son Masar provided both his sire and Godolphin with a first winner of the Blue Riband in outstanding style.
Given a textbook ride by William Buick, Masar was settled in mid division on the outside of odds-on favourite Saxon Warrior. The Charlie Appleby-trained colt was asked to quicken once entering the home straight and angled wide, took the lead just past the two-furlong marker and saw out the trip perfectly, winning by a length and a half.
Dee Ex Bee (Farhh) put up another superb performance to finish second, seeing off the late challenge from Roaring Lion.
Masar broke his maiden at the first time of asking last May, and has raced solely in Stakes company ever since. Third in the Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot, he went on to win the G3 Solario Stakes before finishing a creditable third in the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere. He opened his 2018 European campaign with a nine-length demolition of the field in the G3 Craven Stakes, before taking third in the G1 2,000 Guineas.
Masar hails from an extraordinary family. His dam is the Champion racemare Khawlah (Cape Cross), winner of the UAE Derby and Oaks. His third dam is multiple Classic-placed Melikah, herself dam of record-breaking Masterstroke and Irish Group winner Moonlight Magic. Melikah is a daughter of the great Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Urban Sea who has produced two of the all-time greats in Galileo and Sea The Stars. Khawlah also has a Shamardal yearling colt and has been tested in foal to Dubawi this season.
Masar becomes the seventh winner at the highest level for New Approach, also sire of European Champion and promising young sire Dawn Approach, plus Oaks winner Talent. This year he is also sire of Hey Gaman, beaten by the narrowest of margins in the French Guineas and aiming to go one better in the French Derby tomorrow.
New Approach stands at Dalham Hall Stud at a fee of £30,000, Oct 1, SLF.
