National Service For Herald The Dawn & Birchwood

Time/Date - 16.15hrs local time/Sunday, September 13, 2015
Racecourse/Country - The Curragh/Ireland
Surface/Distance - Turf/7f

Promising two-year-olds Herald The Dawn and Birchwood step up to Group One level for the Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, September 13.

Both colts have already been victorious in Group Two races, with Herald The Dawn (Jim Bolger/Kevin Manning) having stayed on strongly to take the Galileo European Breeders Fund Futurity Stakes in good style over the same course and distance on August 23.

The son of New Approach quickened clear of his rivals for a convincing win in a seven-furlong Naas maiden on August 3 and was second on his debut in another Naas maiden over a furlong shorter on July 8.

Birchwood (Richard Fahey/James Doyle) was denied a clear run when a close fifth in the seven-furlong Group Two Qatar Vintage Stakes at Goodwood on July 28 but had previously broke the course record with an impressive win over the same trip in the Group Two bet365 Superlative Stakes at Newmarket on July 11.

He was third in a six-furlong Listed contest at Naas, Ireland, on June 1 and started his career with a pair of victories, including a smooth victory in a Newbury conditions race, also over six furlongs, on May 16.

Jim Bolger commented: "Herald The Dawn is very well and is improving all of the time."

Richard Fahey reported: "Birchwood had a little bit of a break after he ran at Goodwood and I couldn't be happier with him. It's a strong race and he needs to step up another level."

The Godolphin pair line up against five others headed by Group One Phoenix Stakes winner Air Force Blue and unbeaten Group Three scorer Final Frontier.

Dubawi (2004) and Dawn Approach (2012) have won the Vincent O'Brien National Stakes for Godolphin.