Tag Archive for: Dewhurst Stakes

Shadow Of Light storms home to shade tight Dewhurst tussle

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Shadow Of Light justified the faith connections placed in him earlier in the week having been supplemented for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes by getting up late in determined style.

Winner of the Middle Park over six furlongs just two weeks ago, trainer Charlie Appleby intimated afterwards that his colt would likely be put away for the season and aimed at the Commonwealth Cup next term.

Therefore, it was a surprise on Monday morning when Shadow Of Light’s name was added to the Group One, which traditionally decides the leading juvenile of the season.

Not many colts win the Middle Park and the Dewhurst, and for some years they were on the same day, which rendered it impossible, but US Navy Flag did manage the double in 2017.

Appleby already had one leading contender for the Dewhurst in unbeaten youngster Ancient Truth, but William Buick kept faith with Shadow Of Light, despite having an extra furlong to travel.

However, with each drop of rain turning the ground softer by the minute, confidence began to waver in the eventual even money favourite, despite the absence of The Lion In Winter due to a foot problem.

Only five went to post yet they still split across Newmarket’s great expanse, with Seagulls Eleven leading Shadow Of Light and Rock Of Cashel, while Expanded gave Ancient Truth a lead until two furlongs out.

Having initially been behind, the smaller ground held sway heading into the dip and James Doyle went for home on Ancient Truth, but he could not shake off Aidan O’Brien’s once-raced Expanded.

As the two groups began to get closer, Shadow Of Light once again displayed his smart turn of foot and for the first time showed off his stamina, as he stayed on strongly to get home by a neck from Expanded, with Ancient Truth another neck back in third.

Appleby said: “He’s some horse to do what he has done the last few weeks and full credit to the team. He’s another homebred who is a half-brother to Earthlight.

“Going forward into the spring, we can look at both divisions, I suppose. What Will was most encouraged by was the way he raced – and when he hit the rising ground, he just kept finding and found again when they came close to one another.

Dubai Future Champions Festival – Newmarket Racecourse – Saturday 12th October
Jockey William Buick with the trophy after winning the Darley Dewhurst Stakes on Shadow Of Light (Nigel French/PA).

“Will said he can’t tell me not to look towards a Guineas in the spring. If we go there and don’t stay the mile on the day, he wouldn’t be the first horse to drop back into the Commonwealth Cup. We’ve seen it done before and I imagine that would be our programme in the spring now.”

He added: “I was delighted with Ancient Truth’s run, he was a bit fresh off his lay-off there and James (Doyle) was just having to manage him a little bit for the first two furlongs and got him into a rhythm.

“I actually thought he was going to be the one who was going to hit the rising ground and see it out the best, because at that stage William was under the pump a little bit.

“But as William said, ‘he kept finding for me’, and when the others came closer, he found again.”

Buick said: “He’s a good Middle Park and Dewhurst winner now and he’s obviously an exceptional horse. The race didn’t really play to him at all. A five-runner field, you just think we will race up the middle and everyone will have their chance.

“I needed cover and he was a six-furlong winner stepping up to seven in soft ground, so I had to conserve where I could.

“I knew if I showed him daylight too early, he would probably burn out, so I had to follow Oisin (Murphy on Seagulls Eleven) wherever he went, and Ryan (Moore on Expanded) and James went on the stands’ rail and we were far-to-middle.

“Oisin was cooked approaching the three and I had to make my way home from there and luckily, I’ve managed to make touch with Ryan and James and I just managed to get over a little bit to them – once I did, my fellow got really competitive.

“He hit the rising ground and was well on top in the end. He is really tough and responded to everything I asked him – and what really pleased me the most is, for such a quick Middle Park winner, how he showed that stamina over seven furlongs on this soft ground here.

“I can’t remember many horses I have ridden, especially two-year-olds, who would be able to do that.

“He was running on his own doing fine but once he got a sniff of the opposition, he found another gear. It was a big performance and through that you can definitely mark it up.

“You have to give credit to Charlie and the team for having a crack – he was a four-length Middle Park winner and now two weeks later he’s a Dewhurst winner.”

Appleby sweet on Godolphin’s Dewhurst dual threat

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As far as championship two-year-old contests go, the Darley Dewhurst Stakes needs little introduction and another high-class renewal looks to be in prospect at Newmarket on Saturday.

Charlie Appleby has claimed the seven-furlong showpiece twice so far, both times with exciting operators, as Pinatubo was brilliant in his juvenile year and Native Trail was similarly smart.

Pinatubo and Native Trail were unbeaten heading to the Rowley Mile and already had Group Ones to their name by way of the National Stakes at the Curragh.

That had been thought a likely route for Ancient Truth after he won the Superlative Stakes in July, but instead he was given time and this will be his first run since then.

In contrast, stablemate Shadow Of Light has been relatively busy, winning the Middle Park after losing his unbeaten record when second in the Gimcrack at York.

It came as a minor surprise to see him supplemented for Dewhurst duty, but he is the pick of William Buick over Ancient Truth, who will be ridden by James Doyle.

“I’m delighted with the pair of them coming into it,” said Appleby.

“Shadow Of Light, you are going to tell me that two weeks ago you thought you were going to go sprinting. But as I look at it, he has everything to gain and nothing to lose.

“If he goes and wins, then fantastic, he adds an extra dimension to his three-year-old career and do we look at a Guineas route. If he gets beat, like Blue Point did, then we just cement he’s a sprinter and you can tailor your training programme in the spring. It’s a win-win situation, really.

“Ancient Truth is three from three coming into it and we haven’t seen him since the Superlative.

“We were toying with the idea of running in the National Stakes in Ireland, but I felt he was a horse who would be better given more time and I didn’t want to have two cracks at Group Ones – and this one, the Dewhurst, is an important Group One for us.

“He looks great, he’s strengthened and has done everything we have asked for.”

While Appleby has two Dewhursts to his name, Aidan O’Brien has eight – including a certain City Of Troy 12 months ago.

However, he lost his main contender for this year when The Lion In Winter was taken out due to a bruised foot.

That left him with the once-raced Expanded and Rock Of Cashel.

O’Brien said: “We feel Rock Of Cashel is better than we have seen and we feel he is a little bit like his sister Snowfall (winner of Oaks, Irish Oaks and Yorkshire Oaks) – we could only win a maiden with her at two, but we always thought she was good.

“We think he’s a bit like that and there is plenty there we haven’t seen yet. He had a bad run the last day, but we think there is more to come. Whether that comes in the Dewhurst or whether we have to wait until next year we will find out.”

Completing the line-up is Seagulls Eleven, who is anything but a forlorn hope for Hugo Palmer in the blue and white of Brighton & Hove Albion, having been runner-up to Ancient Truth at Newmarket and then third in the National Stakes.

“He’s done better and better and better; he’s just improved all year,” said Palmer, whose Dubawi Legend gave Native Trail a real race in his Dewhurst victory. “He’s such a big horse, he’ll be better again next year.

“We couldn’t be happier with him going into the race and they say dogs are like their owners, but horses are like their owners.

“He is owned by 11 Brighton footballers and he’s Brighton taking on Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal.

“He’s a lovely horse, we think the world of him, he’s proved he’s capable of mixing it at this level and he’s a big horse who’s still improving.

“Things didn’t go right at the Curragh, he probably over-raced for a little bit in the early part of the race and then virtually wore Ryan Moore (riding Henri Matisse) for half of the last furlong, so there are things that can go better for him going forwards.

“He needs to find probably 7-8lbs on what he’s done before, but he’s a young and improving two-year-old and why can’t he?”

Monday Musings: Troy Worth Weight in Gold

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There was a space next to me for Aidan O’Brien to slide into as we had a late lunch on Saturday, delayed by the excitements we’d just seen on the track, writes Tony Stafford. To my observation that I’d written that City Of Troy was the best two-year-old I’d ever seen, performance-wise, after the Superlative Stakes back in July, Aidan simply said: “He is”, adding, “I know you did, I read that in your column again last week”.

Ever generous with his comments, I’m sure ITV viewers would have heard the same sentiment a little earlier, but like many other people I was at the time too carried up in the euphoria of seeing a performance so rare in a championship race. Even some of the great horses have made hard work of winning the Dewhurst Stakes on their way to 2000 Guineas or Derby triumph the following year.

Frankel comes immediately to mind as one that didn’t struggle, having comfortably beaten O’Brien’s Roderic O’Connor (Irish 2000 Guineas winner the following May) in his Dewhurst on his fourth start of a 14-race unbeaten career. Two other Group 1 winners were his victims in his first three two-year-old appearances.

Nathaniel (two King Georges) gave him a tussle on debut on Newmarket’s July Course while O’Brien’s Treasure Beach (Irish Derby) was only third when they met in the Royal Lodge immediately before the Dewhurst. These were notable early scalps for the colt that brought such lustre to the end of Sir Henry Cecil’s epic career, and to Prince Khalid Abdullah’s Juddmonte Farms.

That Frankel is the yardstick to which City Of Troy has aspiration to be measured was immediately and inevitably emphasised as Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith called Saturday’s winner “our Frankel”. If Aidan and Ryan Moore are to be believed, he is.

They waited for Ryan to report back after finishing second in the opener behind one of two smart Charlie Appleby winning juveniles on the day before taking the final fateful step to run. Ryan said, confounding the relatively quick time, which he explained was due to the strong following wind, that the ground was deep and holding.

A quick consultation between trainer and Messrs Tabor and Smith resulted in the decision to let him take his chance. As Michael said: “He can only lose”, a throwback to the 2000 Guineas debacle for subsequent dual Derby and Irish Champion Stakes winner Auguste Rodin. It isn’t the races you lose that count, but those you win. Now they know he can handle deep ground.

Of course, I wasn’t by any means the only media observer of the July humbling of subsequent Vintage Stakes winner Haatem to express extravagant comments. On Racing TV, Nick Luck’s first words as Ryan pulled up the son of US Triple Crown winner and Coolmore stallion Justify were: “Find me a better two-year-old and I don’t think you will. Not this year anyway.”

On his programme on the channel yesterday morning, he had Hughie Morrison, Racing Post’s Lee Mottershead, and recently retired jockey Louis Steward, and all three agreed with the presenter that here was a horse out of the ordinary.

Luck confessed that as the year went on and various other options rather than the conventional UK Classic format were being mentioned, with the Middle Park and Kentucky Derby as tentative plans, and I quote, “I cashed in my Guineas and Derby bets”. Silly Nick!

Back to Aidan, and when you think that he and the Coolmore partners have won a joint-record eight Dewhurst Stakes, six of them since 2013, for him to consider City Of Troy unquestionably the best, that is some recommendation indeed.

As we munched away, he explained, “We’ve never been able to get him tired and that hasn’t ever been the case with any of our horses before him”. To go back and watch the last furlong of his three runs – on debut at the Curragh challenged in the form the furlong pole but pushed out before going away for a comfortable victory; on the July Course exploding clear of decent opposition; and now, when asked, again surging away going up to the line, without ever seeing a hint of interruption in his perfect stride pattern in any of them.

 

Sectional times by furlong for the Dewhurst Stakes field, the winner accelerating impressively away on soft ground

 

It’s one thing to do it on fast summer going, quite another to replicate it on deep ground, but as he sailed along happily in front, initially at a steady gallop and then one marginally increased by Ryan before a quickening between the penultimate and final furlongs, the gulf in class was starkly evident.

As with Frankel in his 2000 Guineas, when the fringe performers were catching him to a minor degree at the line after the verdict was long decided, so it was on Saturday. Willie Ryan, a Derby winning jockey in his younger days and long-time observer of all the greats with a close up of Frankel’s career and more recently all the best Godolphin horses in Charlie Appleby’s yard, was adamant. “I know the Rowley Mile is a great front-runner’s track, so Ryan was right to dictate, but to do it like that in any championship race, and especially the Dewhurst, was very special.”

Justify may have won the 2018 Triple Crown in the US, as had another Coolmore America stallion, American Pharoah, two years earlier, but the equivalent feat has yet to have been achieved here since Nijinsky and Vincent O’Brien from the same yard in 1970. Camelot went close for the team in 2012, winning the 2000 Guineas and Derby before finishing runner-up in the St Leger, but if ever a pedigree suggested they can finally end the long wait for another, City Of Troy surely has it.

Galileo’s final crop of two-year-olds this year signals an imminent end of a golden era for Coolmore and the partners’ trainer, but he leaves Frankel as his top successor. Inevitably, Galileo appears prominently in City Of Troy’s pedigree and increasingly we will see the Justify on Galileo mares cross as it becomes obvious how effective it is, with so many high-class racemares the great champion has bequeathed the operation. Like his ill-fated but still highly influential sire Scat Daddy before him, Justify, who was bred by John Gunther, produces top-class turf horses.

With eight three-year-olds and a dozen juveniles to represent him in 2023 from Ballydoyle, the results have been spectacular already. City Of Troy’s exploits against the boys have been almost mirrored by Opera Singer, five-length winner of the Group 1 Prix Marcel Boussac at the Arc meeting two weekends ago. She is by Justify out of a mare by Sadler’s Wells, of course the sire of Galileo.

City Of Troy’s dam, Together Forever, had already produced four classy winners before City Of Troy. She is by Galileo and if that wasn’t evidence enough, her mother was by Theatrical, another noted stamina influence.

The year of 2024 promises to be tremendously exciting with potential dreams of the first Triple Crown for 54 years. Whereas Frankel did not get the opportunity to show that he would have been just as superior to all-comers at a mile and a half – the ten furlongs and 56 yards of the fast York track in an easy demolition of his Juddmonte International Stakes rivals on penultimate start was the furthest he attempted - I’m sure City Of Troy will tackle that longer trip. Hopefully that will happen at Epsom on the first Saturday of June.

As media director Richard Henry observed to fellow Coolmore executive Christy Grassick as they walked towards the winner’s circle straight after witnessing the sublime performance of their stable star, “Now we know what we’ll be thinking about through the winter”. Clearly, he cannot wait for the first Saturday in May.

Neither can I!

- TS

Tabor likens Dewhurst hero Troy to Frankel

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Coolmore’s Michael Tabor described City Of Troy as “our Frankel” after his superb triumph in the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

The colt arrived at the track unbeaten after easy wins in a Curragh maiden and the Superlative Stakes, but he was far from a guaranteed contender as the soft ground threatened to scupper his run.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien eventually gave the son of Justify the go-ahead and under Ryan Moore he was sent off the runaway favourite at 8-15.

The juvenile made all the running to cruise to a three-and-a-half-length victory and now the Classics, and indeed a possible Triple Crown bid, beckon.

Owned by Coolmore, a group comprised of John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, the colt has exalted company to contend with but is still regarded as one of the best, if not the best, horse to have ever represented the owners.

City Of Troy and Ryan Moore
City Of Troy and Ryan Moore (Tim Goode/PA)

Tabor was at the Rowley Mile track to witness the victory and was effusive in his praise for a horse he hopes can develop into Coolmore’s answer to the great Frankel, who bowed out unbeaten in 14 starts with 11 of those victories coming in Group One company.

“This horse is our Frankel, I really think that. There is no question in my mind, by his comments, that Aidan thinks this horse is probably the best he’s ever trained,” he said.

“He was nervous with the ground and when you tackle that unknown factor, there’s always a chance that they just won’t do it. He’s got that action, that very low action, but they say that a good horse goes on any ground.

“This is a good horse and he obviously does go on any ground, but I’d say he’ll be much better on top of the ground.

“I know the way Aidan speaks and we’re all optimists – you have to be in life in my opinion, in this game especially – but this horse is special. No question, he is special. He is the real deal.

“Let’s hope he is as popular as Frankel was but he’ll only get that popularity as time goes. Hopefully as time goes on he’ll win all the big races and the accolades will be given to him. I like to talk before the event and I really feel that this horse could be anything.

“It’s always been John Magnier’s dream to win the Triple Crown and we were very unlucky years ago with Camelot, he got beaten a three-quarters of a length in the St Leger.

“The St Leger trip can be a trip too far but let’s take one at a time, to me the Guineas and the Derby are very realistic. Get me a bookmaker that would lay me a price!

“Aidan says this horse doesn’t get tired! Aidan is very enthusiastic, if he doesn’t believe in something then the yard doesn’t believe in it and you have to give people confidence, but I know the way he is and this is something special.”

The owner’s son MV Magnier echoed the dream of finally winning the Triple Crown after Camelot’s agonising defeat.

City Of Troy pulling clear in the Dewhurst
City Of Troy pulling clear in the Dewhurst (Tim Goode/PA)

He said: “It looks like it’s possible. Beforehand I was talking to Ryan and he said the horse that he rode in the Superlative was the best two-year-old that he’s ridden and he would beat any two-year-old he’s seen. That was some confidence going into the race and then afterwards he said he’s definitely the best two-year-old he’s ridden.

“His mother (Together Forever) won the Fillies’ Mile here a few years ago and her sister won the Oaks. Justify, Bob Baffert always said that he was a very good two-year-old but he got injured, he won the Belmont Stakes over a mile and a half so technically, he should get a mile and a half.

“It’s what everybody wants to do, it’s all about the Derby, it’s all about the Triple Crown, it’s really the pinnacle that everybody aims for. I’ll put it to you this way, we’ll keep trying to win the Triple Crown.”

City Of Troy seals star status with Dewhurst success

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Aidan O’Brien hailed City Of Troy as the best two-year-old he has trained following a sensational display in the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.

O’Brien expressed some doubts about the soft ground in the lead up to the race but the decision to run the colt proved the right call.

Under Ryan Moore, the unbeaten juvenile set the early pace as the 8-15 favourite and the triumph looked inevitable when he surged clear of his seven rivals two furlongs from home before crossing the line three and a half lengths ahead.

City Of Troy and Ryan Moore return to the winner's enclosure
City Of Troy and Ryan Moore return to the winner’s enclosure (Nigel French/PA)

The son of Justify was having just his third career start, having won a Curragh maiden in July before triumphing by six and a half lengths in the Superlative Stakes later that month.

Testing conditions scuppered a planned National Stakes run last month, but the Curragh’s loss was Newmarket’s gain as City Of Troy blazed a trail down the Rowley Mile to ensure he heads into winter quarters as next year’s Classic favourite.

Coral make him an evens chance for the 2000 Guineas and the 5-2 market leader for the Derby, with Paddy Power slightly more generous at 5-4 for the Newmarket Classic and the 9-4 favourite for Epsom.

The latter firm also offer 10-1 about his chances of completing the Triple Crown by also winning the St Leger.

O’Brien said: “Did you see the movement on him? He’d absolutely hate that ground, he hasn’t got tractor tyres but what he has is a jet engine and the engine just powers his action through.

“He’s an incredible horse really and thank God we ran him. I said to everyone he could get beat, he was entitled to get beat on this ground, but he just never gets tired the horse – I’ve never seen a horse who doesn’t get tired.

“It’s obviously part of his make-up somewhere. We’ve never had a horse like him, that’s the way it is.

“We’ve never had a horse where we don’t know where the limit is. We usually push them to the limit, but we never could find his limit. We’ve never, ever had a horse before like that.

“He is the best two-year-old we’ve trained, there’s no doubt. He’s by Justify and it’s a Justify trait – they just keep going.”

City Of Troy with winning connections
City Of Troy with winning connections (Tim Goode/Jockey Club)

Moore was equally as impressed, admitting he felt only the ground or lengthy absence could beat his mount.

He said: “He’s a very, very good horse who really impressed me on both of his previous runs and today he’s put up a performance like that off the back of a long lay-off in conditions he didn’t like.

“The first day I rode him he did something a horse has never done to me before – I couldn’t stop him, which has never happened. We went steady and he only got racing in the last 150 yards on fast ground

“When he ran here on the July Course, I thought that was as impressive a two-year-old performance as I’d ridden – at that time of year I’d never ridden a two-year-old who could do that.

“Coming into today, I couldn’t see how anything the race could beat him, the worry was the holding ground after that rain we had last night, and he’d been off since the July meeting.

“I thought his performance was very commanding again and he’s a special horse. His action is different and he wants a nice surface.

“He’s a very rare horse. For me, Frankel is the best racehorse I ever saw and I stupidly said after this horse won the July Course I hadn’t seen a two-year-old do that since him, but that was a silly comparison to make – this horse has a long way to go yet and he’s going to have to carry on doing what he’s done so far.”

Alyanaabi (right) had to settle for second
Alyanaabi (right) had to settle for second (Tim Goode/Jockey Club)

Alyanaabi took second spot for owners Shadwell and racing manager Angus Gold was another to praise City Of Troy.

Gold said: “I was incredibly impressed by the winner. He looked an absolutely gorgeous horse with a lovely attitude beforehand and I couldn’t believe how well he moved on the ground.

“Jim (Crowley, jockey) said he could see the winner and he looked like he was struggling on the ground and he thought he had a chance, and then he just went away again.

“We’re delighted with our horse, he ran a fantastic race. Jim just said he couldn’t quicken like he did last time on faster ground, but then the winner was in the same boat.

“We’ll put him away and try to have another go in the Guineas, all being well. I can’t see any reason why not.”

Troy aiming to conquer Dewhurst rivals

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Aidan O’Brien expects City Of Troy will gain some valuable experience as he makes his eagerly-anticipated return in the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes.

The son of Justify made a winning debut at the Curragh in July and then blew the field away to take the Superlative Stakes by six and a half lengths later in the same month.

The National Stakes was then bypassed due to unsuitable ground and while the going was officially described as soft on Friday, connections are happy to take up their Rowley Mile engagement as they look to get another run in before the end of the campaign.

City Of Troy currently heads the betting for next year’s 2000 Guineas and Derby, with O’Brien viewing the Dewhurst as a perfect ending to the colt’s campaign.

City Of Troy winning the Superlative Stakes
City Of Troy winning the Superlative Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

O’Brien said: “He’s ready for his third run. Obviously he was due to the go the Curragh three weeks ago and that didn’t work, but everyone is happy with him.

“We always loved him and he’s done everything we’ve asked him so far. This should be a lovely run to finish him off for the year and give him more experience.

“Everything is well with him. He is a beautiful moving horse.”

Alyanaabi (left) winning the Tattersalls Stakes
Alyanaabi (left) winning the Tattersalls Stakes (Tim Goode/PA)

Also entered is Owen Burrows’ Alyanaabi, a Shadwell-owned colt who was last seen winning the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over course and distance in late September.

Of that performance, Burrows said: “I felt he had to quicken at a few stages in the Group Three last time. He had to quicken down the hill and he had to quicken going up the hill.

“I’m not concerned if there is lack of pace in the race as this horse has won over six furlongs, so if it did turn into a sprint late on I wouldn’t be concerned. He is pretty versatile.

“We always felt he was this level and the fact I pitched him in a Listed race on his second start (Pat Eddery Stakes) instead of going for a novice race under a penalty suggested that.

“He has always shown a fair level and it wasn’t out of the realms of possibility he would be rocking up in a race like this.”

Iberian (centre) in the Champagne Stakes during the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster
Iberian (centre) in the Champagne Stakes during the Betfred St Leger Festival at Doncaster (Tim Goode/PA)

Charlie Hills’ Iberian was a winner last time out when taking the Champagne Stakes under Tom Marquand, the same jockey who takes the rides at Newmarket on Saturday.

He said: “I’m looking forward to riding him and obviously he will have to take another step forward, but he holds all the credentials for a horse that you are going into a race like that on.

“It’s a different task but one he looks ready to go and tackle.

“I was very impressed (at Doncaster) like everyone else who was watching him and he showed a good turn of foot, which is what you need over seven in a Group One. There’s obviously been Group One winners behind him, albeit on different ground. He’s in top order so fingers crossed.”

On the threat of City Of Troy, the rider added: “We’ve only seen him on a racecourse twice and he’s off a three-month absence since the Superlative. While he was impressive in that, if ever there is a day to take on a horse like that, this is it. Circumstances are probably as ever in our favour as they can be and I’m looking forward to it.”

Array after winning the Mill Reef
Array after winning the Mill Reef (PA)

Juddmonte and Andrew Balding have supplemented Mill Reef winner Array into the race where he will be ridden by James Doyle.

Juddmonte’s Barry Mahon said: “It’s a big task, but he’s in good form and won the Mill Reef well.

“No Nay Never’s progeny seem to excel at two and there wasn’t a whole lot left for him this year, so the owners were keen to give it a go and so was Andrew and we said we’d give it a rattle.

“I think we’re confident enough about the trip – Oisin (Murphy) was pretty confident that he’d stay the seven the last day.”

Indian Run represents Eve Johnson Houghton
Indian Run represents Eve Johnson Houghton (Mike Egerton/PA)

Eve Johnson Houghton has an entrant in Indian Run, a dual winner this term who made his Group debut when landing the Acomb Stakes at York by a length and a half in August.

“He’s got a big day and obviously it’s a hot race, it’s a championship race,” the trainer said.

“He goes there in great form and we go there very hopeful. He’s done everything we’ve ever asked of him, so let’s hope he keeps on going that way.”

Completing the field is John and Thady Gosden’s Eben Shaddad, third in the Tattersalls Stakes, Richard Hannon’s Vintage Stakes winner Haatem and O’Brien’s Henry Adams.

Burrows has faith in Alyanaabi for Dewhurst bid

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Owen Burrows is confident Alyanaabi can make his presence felt in the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

A winner on his Salisbury debut in June, the son of Too Darn Hot then finished fourth behind subsequent Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner Rosallion in the Listed Pat Eddery Stakes at Ascot.

Alyanaabi got back on the winning trail in the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over the Dewhurst course and distance late last month- and while Aidan O’Brien’s unbeaten 2000 Guineas favourite City Of Troy is expected to prove hard to beat this weekend, Burrows is hopeful his colt will put up a bold showing.

“To have the third favourite in the Dewhurst is massively exciting and this is what it is all about,” said the Lambourn handler.

“He would have been a slightly unlucky loser last time out in the Group Three, but he just managed to put his head down in time.

“He is a horse we really like, and it will be interesting to see how he fares on Saturday. As you well know, it is always a bonus when they have acted on the track.

“We left France a couple of weekends ago disappointed after Hukum’s defeat in the Arc and it would be an amazing end to the season if we could come away with a Dewhurst winner.”

Trainer Owen Burrows has high hopes for Alyanaabi
Trainer Owen Burrows has high hopes for Alyanaabi (John Walton/PA)

While Alyanaabi was not disgraced in being beaten just under five lengths by Rosallion at the end of July, Burrows is adamant his star juvenile is better than he showed on that occasion.

He added: “In the Listed race at Ascot we felt he ran tidy enough, but that wasn’t his proper running. He got a little bit shut up in behind and didn’t get out, but when he did get out he didn’t show the speed he does at home.

“Jim (Crowley) felt the slightly softer ground didn’t play to his strengths, so it was good once we got him on faster ground last time to see him show the speed we had seen at home.

“That Ascot race has turned out to be pretty smart as the winner Rosallion has won the Group One in France, the runner up Al Musmak has won a Listed race and was second in the Royal Lodge, and Dancing Gemini, who finished fifth, has also won a Listed race at Doncaster.

“Even though he got beat at Ascot it was still a good race and the form is stacking up well.”

Burrows hopes Alyanaabi can on Saturday prove himself a legitimate candidate for the 2000 Guineas back on the Rowley Mile next spring.

“He is a Group Three winner now and hopefully that is not the end of it,” he said.

“He is a lovely big scopey horse and it looks like he will get a mile all day long.

“We are all dreaming that he will hopefully be a Guineas horse next year.”

Array supplemented to tackle City Of Troy in Dewhurst

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Array has been supplemented for the Native Trail’s Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday to join City Of Troy and 10 others.

Owned by Juddmonte and trained by Andrew Balding, Array was last seen winning the Mill Reef Stakes and will be having his first run over seven furlongs.

City Of Troy sets a tall standard to aim at, however. Aidan O’Brien’s colt has not been seen since creating a huge impression when winning the Superlative Stakes.

He was a late withdrawal from the National Stakes last month when Henry Longfellow stepped in to be Ballydoyle’s number one.

City Of Troy and Dean Gallagher on the Ballydoyle gallops
City Of Troy and Dean Gallagher on the Ballydoyle gallops (Tom Maher/PA)

Henry Longfellow remains in contention along with stablemates Henry Adams, Johannes Brahms, River Tiber and Unquestionable but there is no doubting City Of Troy is O’Brien’s big hope.

Iberian looked a smart colt when beating subsequent Group One winner Rosallion in the Champagne Stakes and is well worth a shot for the Charlie Hills team, while Eve Johnson Houghton’s Indian Run, part-owned by England cricket star Jonny Bairstow, arrives off a win in the Acomb Stakes.

Alyanaabi, who came from an unpromising position to win the Tattersalls Stakes, Eben Shaddad and Haatem complete the list.

Dubai Future, Knight, Regal Reality, Spirit Dancer and Sir Busker are among 13 in the Earthlight Darley Stakes. Orne, a debut winner for John and Thady Gosden, is one of 14 in the Emirates Autumn Stakes.

A total of 40 remain in the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch, headed by David Pipe’s recent Bangor winner Wordsworth.

The Shunter winning at the Cheltenham Festival
The Shunter winning at the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies/PA)

Willie Mullins has several options at the five-day stage M C Muldoon and Lot Of Joy.

Ryan Moore is due to partner Gordon Elliott’s Pied Piper, the ante-post favourite, with the 11-year-old Not So Sleepy, back to winning ways last time out, due to be partnered by Tom Marquand.

Emmet Mullins will be represented by The Shunter, a Cheltenham Festival winner over fences in 2021.

Owner JP McManus’ racing manager Frank Berry said: “Emmet was happy with him before the weekend and the intention then was to go.

“He ran a nice race on the Flat in the summer (fourth), Emmet was pleased with that and you’d expect him to come forward from that.

“He’ll go there in good nick, anyway, and we hope he runs well.”

Tashkhan, Tritonic, The Very Man and Jesse Evans are all engaged at this stage.

Dewhurst not ruled out for Middle Park hero Vandeek

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Options remain open for Simon and Ed Crisford’s Vandeek after his superb Middle Park success.

The Havana Grey colt maintained his flawless record at Newmarket on Saturday, securing an impressive two-and-a-quarter-length victory under James Doyle in the six-furlong Group One.

That triumph is stacked on top of a winning debut, a Group Two win in the Richmond Stakes at Goodwood and further Group One glory in the Prix Morny at Deauville, meaning he is unbeaten in four starts so far.

On his first three outings he had encountered soft ground, particularly at Goodwood, but at Newmarket the going was good to firm and in quick conditions he looked even more talented when hitting top gear to leave a smart field in his wake.

“He was very impressive on Saturday, he showed a really classy turn of foot to put the race to bed going into the dip,” said Chris Wall, racing manager to owners KHK Racing.

Vandeek winning the Middle Park
Vandeek winning the Middle Park (Tim Goode/PA)

“Up to that point he’d only ever run on soft ground and it had to be seen if he could handle the quicker conditions as well, but actually I think he handled them better.

“It was a really classy performance and a credit to the Crisfords to have him teed up and ready to go on the day having not run since the middle of August.

“They hadn’t gone particularly quickly by halfway, visually they didn’t look to be going as strong a gallop as you might expect in a Group One race.

“The field then quickened in front of him and he’s just shot away from them, it goes to show the raw natural speed that he possesses.”

Vandeek clearly has ample ability and his performances are further aided by his rock steady temperament as he does little to burn through vital energy ahead of his races.

“He has the most remarkable temperament, most two-year-old sprinting colts would tend to be a bit buzzy and electric but he’s the very opposite of that,” Wall said.

“He walks around half asleep most of the time, Andrea Atzeni rode him in Deauville and he warned James Doyle about him. He said ‘the only thing you have to worry about is that you don’t let him fall asleep and fall on his head cantering to the start’.”

The colt holds an entry for the Dewhurst in mid-October and whilst firm plans have not been made, a return to the Rowley Mile is not ruled out for a late-season step up to seven furlongs.

“He has an engagement in the Dewhurst but I think nobody is going to commit to that until nearer the time when we can see how the horse is, what the opposition will be, all the usual things. We’re not ruling anything out at this stage.”

Iberian team eager to take Group One Dewhurst test

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Connections are relishing the prospect of the “brilliantly talented” Iberian lining up in the Dewhurst Stakes following his scintillating victory in the Champagne Stakes last month.

A winner in taking fashion at Newbury on debut, the Charlie Hills-trained youngster lost little in defeat at Goodwood on his second outing before getting back on the winning trail in supreme fashion at Doncaster, showcasing a blistering turn of foot to register a commanding two-length success.

With Group Two honours secured in South Yorkshire, the son of Lope De Vega will now attempt to keep his upwards curve moving skywards when heading to Newmarket on October 14.

Iberian will get his first taste of action at the highest level there and could face off against the best of the Ballydoyle juveniles and impressive Middle Park winner Vandeek.

Iberian poses after the Champagne Stakes
Iberian poses after the Champagne Stakes (PA)

“That will be his next start and it has been the plan all along to go Champagne then Dewhurst,” explained Richard Ryan, racing manager for Teme Valley who own the horse in partnership with Ballylinch Stud.

“There’s a nice gap between both races leading into the Dewhurst and that’s the hope, we’ve just got to see what Aidan O’Brien may bring to the table and that is a very tough act to beat.

“He’s got a stallion’s page and is a prodigious talent, but you have to show it at the top table and the Dewhurst seems the perfect place to do just that.”

Inexperience counted against Iberian on his second start in the Vintage Stakes, but he justified connections’ belief with a statement victory on Town Moor, bursting the bubble of the previously unbeaten Rosallion.

That form was given a timely boost when Richard Hannon’s highly-regarded colt bounced back to claim the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and adds extra substance to Iberian’s growing profile.

“It was good to see that endorsement of the form (in France) and let’s hope it’s a literal interpretation,” continued Ryan.

“He’s always been impressive at home, stunningly so, and our opinion of him couldn’t be higher.

“We were slightly dumbfounded by his defeat at Goodwood. He was drawn wide in one and William (Buick) hadn’t sat on him and rode him like the most inexperienced horse in the race, which was the right thing to do in the circumstances, but invariably we found ourself 10 lengths off the pace with only a few furlongs left to go, which is incredibly hard to make up on soft ground at Goodwood.

Iberian (right) had to settle for second at Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes
Iberian (right) had to settle for second at Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)

“Doncaster is a very different track and very flat and very fair in comparison and the horse was able to show what we’ve seen on a constant basis at home.”

In winning the Champagne Stakes, Iberian was following in the footsteps of another Teme Valley and Ballylinch Stud alumni, Bayside Boy, who would win the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at three, but ran in both the Dewhurst and the Futurity Trophy following victory at Doncaster in his juvenile season.

However, Ryan explained that is not the plan this time and after Iberian has challenged for supremacy in the Dewhurst, thoughts will turn to next year’s 2000 Guineas, for which he is currently a best price of 25-1 but as short as 14s in places.

“This is a very different type of animal,” he said.

Bayside Boy (left) was also a Champagne Stakes winner
Bayside Boy (left) was also a Champagne Stakes winner (Mike Egerton/PA)

“The Dewhurst for Bayside Boy went slightly frustratingly in he got trapped in a pocket and got out late against Native Trail. Because he was a locally trained horse within Newmarket where the race is run, we found he was fresh as paint within 48 hours.

“Ordinarily it would never have been a consideration, but in those circumstances it was a different decision.

“This horse is brilliantly talented at home and has sheer brilliance as you saw at Doncaster with his turn of foot, so that would never be on the table.

“Come what may, he will be put away for the Guineas. We’ve just got one big hoop to jump through first.”