Im surprised you didnt remember the Juddmonte was run at Newmarket that year Shergy considering New Approach ran the only bad race of his life in it.
Now I come to think of it I can remember the race, the infamous one where the pacemaker moved off the rail and gave The Duke a clear passage up the rail. New Approach though was not right in that race, having just come back from his injury. His class just about got him home after in Ireland, but it wasn't til the Champion Stakes where i believe he was fully back to his best after the mid season problem they had with him. This is nonsense, he'd of easily won an Arc, any Arc in fact. He won the KG easily enough, and 2 Derbys with ease. To say he wouldn't have won an Arc is silly really. Sir Micheal Stoute has trained an Arc winner in Workforce, so I'd love to hear his thoughts on how the 2 compare. I think you know what the answer would be. And as for the Guineas, he had loads of speed, it was just unfortunate they didn't realise how good he was until after Newmarket. He'd of certainly beaten Delegator over a mile, that's for certain
The Champion Stakes and Arc are over different distances. New Approach didn't go for the Arc probably because of the way he behaved in the Derby, he was never going to win an Arc pulling his riders arms out early on. Even the Champion Stakes they had to set his pacemaker off at a record breaking pace and tuck him in behind just so he didn't waste any energy pulling, and New Approach was the only horse good enough to sustain the gallop smashing the course record in the process. He definately had his quirks as a racehorse, and that's what let him down throughout his career, though he was an incredibly talented horse. A champion at 2 and a champion at 3, how many other horses can boast being a duel champion? Not many I'd imagine
New Approach was certainly a very, very nice horse Shergy, I backed him to win a few races myself. Shame he got his backdoors blew off by Henry twice in both Guineas as undoubtedly a Classic over a mile would have helped his legacy considerably
Don't forget Novellist - Took keen hold early, held up in 4th, closed on leading pair from 3f out, driven to lead 2f out, stormed clear, impressive 2m 24.60s (fast by 4.00s) New course record. OK Going was good to firm.
Doors blown off? He got beat by a nose at Newmarket, and he was coming back at the line. Henrythenavigator was a class miler though, where as New Approach was better at middle distances. His class got him home in races like the Dewhurst
Yes was close at Newmarket, I was more thinking of at the Curragh where Henry cantered all over him. New Approach was being flogged and ridden from a long way out while Henry cantered along as if merely in an exercise canter. But as you say Henry was a very classy miler and NA blatantly wasn't off his class over the shorter trip.
I thought I'd ask SA for his "official" views on the topic. Then I remembered we already have them well documented - somewhere.
New Approach was crying out for a trip in the Dewhurst let alone as late as the Irish Guineas and Herny at his peak on that ground was a top miler, not many middle distance horses would have got near him that day. Thank god NA ran in that race though because he wouldnt have been a 6/1 certainty for the Derby otherwise.
Henry was a class act over 8f, particularly on firm ground. New Approach was a class act over 10f -12f and hated fast ground. If either of the 2000 Gns would have had "soft" in the description Henry would have been beaten by NA. As he would have been over any distance that didn't have "firm" in the going
All out against the legendary Tartan Bearer I didn't mind I backed him for that Derby, one of the very, very few times I've had the winner so I always remember it fondly! Was gutted when Henry chinned him at Newmarket.
Sensitive? SA would provide some objective input if you prefer. I'll get him to sign up under a new name. No-one will spot it
Was an impressive win for reasons not related to the winning margin or the horse he beat as im sure you well know. New Approach was a horse who always done enough in a finish as well, a galloping battler with gears, thats why he was the Champion at 2 and 3 and the best horse of his generation outside Zarkava.
