Causeway juvenile wins G1 Dewhurst

18th October 2008

More often than not the G1 Dewhurst Stakes proves the most important juvenile colts’ contest in Britain and this year’s winner Intense Focus (2c Giant’s Causeway-Daneleta, by Danehill) looked every bit as gutsy as past victors.

The Giant’s Causeway colt was having his ninth start of the season when getting up in a photo to give trainer Jim Bolger a third Dewhurst victory in as many years following the Galileo colts Teofilo and New Approach, who both went on to be crowned champion juveniles.

"Intense Focus is a tough, battling horse with a nice bit of quality and speed as well. Full marks to Kevin Manning - he gave him a great ride. He’ll come back here for the 2,000 Guineas," said Bolger.

"He wouldn’t be far behind (Teofilo and New Approach) at this stage but it wasn’t as straightforward in getting him there and he didn’t handle the heavy ground very well which was why he ran a couple of ordinary races and probably after he ran his first bad race in soft ground we shouldn’t have run him on it again.

"He could well get a mile and a half next year. His dam had a fair bit of stamina. I sold her after her three-year-old year but I always expected she’d get a mile and a half and the sire got 12 furlongs. There’s every chance he’ll stay a mile and a half and he’s a very handy horse."

Intense Focus, who races for Bolger’s wife Jackie, was bred by Robert Clay and Airlie Stud and was bought for 340,000 euros at last year’s Goffs Million Sale.