by Mike Curry

Trainer Jim Bolger has reason for optimism heading into the final months of the European flat season as New Approach and Lush Lashes swept the Group 1 races at Leopardstown on Sunday.

Vodafone Epsom Derby (Eng-G1) winner New Approach seized command at the top of the straight and fended off a bid from game runner-up Traffic Guard to win the Tattersalls Irish Champion Stakes (Ire-G1) by a half-length.

Trained by Bolger for owner Princess Haya, the Galileo (Ire) colt rebounded from a third-place finish in the Juddmonte International Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 23 at Newmarket.

The Irish Champion Stakes was expected to feature a rematch of Juddmonte International winner Duke of Marmalade and New Approach, but the much-anticipated showdown was lost when trainer Aidan O’Brien scratched Duke of Marmalade because of the testing ground.

New Approach stalked the pace from second and often appeared eager to rush past pacesetter Red Rock Canyon in the 1 1/4-mile race on yielding turf. Jockey Kevin Manning kept New Approach on the outside flank of Red Rock Canyon until the top of the straight, where New Approach surged quickly to the front and opened a clear advantage.

Traffic Guard, in search of his first group stakes win after placing four times in group stakes, and third-place finisher Mores Wells closed willingly. Traffic Guard made the finish interesting but could not reel in New Approach, who found plenty of stamina in reserve to prevail in 2:07.57.

"On his previous run at Newmarket, he was a bit too keen because we had to rush a lot of quick work into him in a short space of time,” Bolger told England’s Press Association. “There was not really enough pace today and once again, we probably overdid the settling. He was only doing what he had to do and Kevin confirmed that he had bundles in the tank.

"It was a nice, easy race for him and he should come out of it well.”

Bolger said he has plenty of options for New Approach, including the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Fr-G1) on October 5, the Emirates Airline Champion Stakes (Eng-G1) on October 20 at Newmarket, and the $5-million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) on October 25 at the Oak Tree meeting at Santa Anita Park.

"He'll probably run in two of those three," Bolger said.

Lush Lashes delivered an eye-opening performance in the Coolmore Fusaichi Pegasus Matron Stakes (Ire-G1), unleashing an explosive turn of foot to seize command and digging in gamely to hold off runner-up Nahoodh and Halfway To Heaven and prevail by a neck.

Jackie Bolger’s Lush Lashes entered off a clear win in the Darley Yorkshire Oaks (Eng-G1) on August 22 at Newmarket, and the three-year-old Galileo (Ire) filly had no trouble cutting back in distance from 1 1/2 miles to one mile for the Matron Stakes.

Manning positioned Lush Lashes in second behind pacesetter Lady Gloria, and she seized command when given her cue. Nahoodh and Irish classic winner Halfway To Heaven, who defeated Lush Lashes in the Blue Square Nassau Stakes (Eng-G1) on August 2, powered into contention but could not collar the winner.

Lush Lashes completed the distance in 1:40.73 to earn her fifth win in nine starts. Bolger said Lush Lashes could make her next start in the Kingdom of Bahrain Sun Chariot Stakes (Eng-G1) on October 4 at Newmarket or the Qatar Prix de l’Opera (Fr-G1) on October 5 at Longchamp. The Breeders’ Cup and the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong Cup (HK-G1) on December 14 also are under consideration.

The Irish Champion Stakes and Matron Stakes originally were scheduled for Saturday, but were rescheduled for Sunday because the turf course at Leopardstown was waterlogged.

Mike Curry is a Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor