What makes this particularly notable is the level at which it is competing. Class 5 is towards the lower end of the British racing ladder — these are races designed to give horses like Approaching Dawn a realistic shot at winning. And yet, across three attempts at that level, it has not managed a single victory or even a place finish. That is not a horse going close and getting unlucky; that is a horse that has not yet figured out how to trouble the judge.
The yard responsible for Approaching Dawn is no small operation. Jim Goldie, based at Uplawmoor in Lanarkshire, has sent out 88 winners this season alone — that is a genuinely productive training operation, and Goldie clearly knows how to get horses ready to run and ready to win. The fact that 88 winners have come from his yard this season suggests this is not a problem of preparation or management. Approaching Dawn simply has not clicked yet, or perhaps not at all. It raced just one day ago, so whatever answers the next chapter holds, they are not far away.
There is something quietly intriguing about a horse that keeps lining up despite a blank record. Whether that persistence reflects belief from the team that a change of luck or conditions might unlock something, or simply a horse that enjoys racing without excelling at it, is hard to say. For now, Approaching Dawn is very much a work in progress — and on current evidence, quite a long way from the finish line.
| Course | Races | Results | Last visited | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Galloping |
2 | 2 other | 24 Nov | 0% |
| Catterick Bridge Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 18 Oct | 0% |
| Musselburgh Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 29 Apr | 0% |
| Ayr Galloping |
1 | 1 other | 5 May | 0% |
| Hamilton Park Sharp |
1 | 1 other | 15 May | 0% |