Trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott have designs on the G1 Golden Rose Stakes with their Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) graduate Dawn Passage.

Waterhouse declared Dawn Approach a colt ready to be a major player for the spring after his eye-catching victory in the LR The Rosebud (1100m) on Saturday. “He’s an outstanding individual,” she said at Rosehill. “He had to settle second last and make up many lengths. We will see more improvement as he gets over further and this race is the right stepping-stone for the Golden Rose.”

Dawn Passage (3c Dawn Approach – Raja Lane by Devaraja) powered home from back in the pack to defeat Let it Pour (Redoute’s Choice) and Lucicello (I Am Invincible). He had won on debut at Randwick in January and followed up with a pleasing third in the RL Inglis Millennium (1200m) at Warwick Farm in February.

“I would have loved to have been a pair closer,” jockey Tim Clark explained. “I’m sure he would have been able to settle closer with a kinder barrier draw.

“He will extend to the Golden Rose no problems. I really loved how he let down and savaged the line. I hadn’t felt that top quality but after today he definitely goes up a rung.”

Dawn Passage was purchased by Waterhouse, Bott and Blue Sky Bloodstock’s Julian Blaxland for $150,000 at last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and he has already accumulated $345,000 in prizemoney.

His dam Raja Lane won a G3 Dermody Stakes in Adelaide and her earlier foals include the stakes performer Dinkum Diamond (Keep The Faith). Her final foal is a 2yo colt by Rebel Raider.

Dawn Approach (New Approach) shuttled to Australia for five years from 2014 but it was announced earlier this year that Darley would not be shuttling him in 2019.

Federation of Bloodstock Agents Australia (FBAA) was formed in 1988 to maintain, improve and develop the standards, status and services of bloodstock agents throughout Australia. Its members operate with the utmost integrity and professionalism and are bound by the strict Industry Code of Conduct.

The list of FBAA members can be viewed at: www.bloodstockagents.com.au

DAWN PASSAGE