Herald The Dawn and Birchwood came home second and third respectively in the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs on yielding ground at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, September 13.
Herald The Dawn and Birchwood came home second and third respectively in the Group One Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes over seven furlongs on yielding ground at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, September 13.
Herald The Dawn, trained by Jim Bolger and partnered by Kevin Manning, raced keenly in third before settling by half-way.
The two-year-old New Approach colt came through to challenge fellow Godolphin contender Birchwood and led briefly with a furlong and a half remaining but was quickly headed by the winner Air Force Blue.
Herald The Dawn kept on to go down by three lengths, with Birchwood another length and three quarters back in third.
The winner's time came to 1m 29.89s.
Birchwood, from Richard Fahey's Yorkshire stable and the mount of James Doyle, led initially and then raced in second.
The two-year-old Dark Angel colt regained the advantage with two and a half furlongs remaining but was headed after another furlong and kept on one-paced.
Jim Bolger commented: "Under the conditions, Herald The Dawn ran a very nice race.
"He was not in love with the going and would prefer better ground.
"There are a few options for him before the end of the season and he will have one more run if the ground is suitable."
Richard Fahey said: "It was a little bit of a messy race - they did not go a great gallop.
"He prefers a quicker pace but there were no real excuses - he was beaten by two good horses.
"Birchwood is still in the Dewhurst but would meet the same horses there. Otherwise, there is not much left for him in Europe and we might take him to America."
