Racing career began March 2012; won all 7 of his races including the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, National Stakes at the Curragh, Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. He ended the 2012 European season as the year's most highly rated 2yr-old colt, was regarded as a leading contender for the 2013 classics. As a 3 yr old, he won the classic 2000 Guineas on his 1st appearance, going on to win the St James Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot. In November, Dawn Approach was named European Champion two-year-old colt at the Cartier Racing Awards. In the 2012 European Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, he was given a rating of 124, six pounds clear of his closest rival Kingsbarns. In the 2013 edition of the World's Best Racehorse Rankings Dawn Approach was rated the joint-eleventh best horse in the world and the joint-third best three-year-old colt behind Toronado and Olympic Glory, and level with Magician, Intello and Will Take Charge.
Entered stud in 2014-20 at Kildangan Stud, Ireland
Shuttled in 2014-18 to Kelvinside Stud, Australia
At stud in 2021 at Redmondstown Stud, Ireland