The Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes is the crown jewel of the juvenile season. Won last year by City Of Troy, Joe Napier analyses who will follow the 2024 Derby winner into the roll of honour.
City Of Troy did it all his own way last year, powering away from the front to give Aidan O’Brien a record equalling eighth win in the race.
THE LION IN WINTER
(Aidan O’Brien/Ryan Moore)
Although bred in the blue as all Ballydoyle horses are, The Lion In Winter’s first sibling Sea La Venus has been a big disappointment for William Haggas. However, patience regarding the partnership between Sea The Stars and Lope De Vega mare What A Home has evidently been required, as their second son is the current favourite for the 2025 Epsom Derby.
He has achieved that position after just two starts, upsetting a more fancied stablemate when showing a devastating late kick at the Curragh. That stablemate was Ides Of March, who readily won a Group 3 last time out, and his form only went to another level when beating subsequent Royal Lodge winner Wimbledon Hawkeye by just shy of two lengths. The fourth and ninth have both won since, with the seventh runner-up in Group 3 company too, and that form gives O’Brien’s latest star juvenile significant form substance.
SHADOW OF LIGHT
(Charlie Appleby/William Buick)
US Navy Flag was the last horse to complete the Middle Park/Dewhurst double act in 2017. It is a rare accomplishment, but one Shadow Of Light could easily be capable of achieving. Having shown obvious promise in his first three starts, narrowly being touched off in the Gimcrack Stakes at York, he stepped forward to rout his opposition in the Middle Park for a first Group 1 success.
In second was another top level scorer in Whistlejacket, though Aidan O’Brien’s colt may well be lower down the pecking order than may be expected. It was a sterling effort nonetheless from Appleby’s charge, who is closely related to the very talented Earthlight and should have few difficulties stepping up to 7f. As much cut as possible in the ground will help.
ANCIENT TRUTH
(Charlie Appleby/James Doyle)
The second of three undefeated colts in the field, Ancient Truth has won three from three, maintaining his unbeaten streak for longer than Shadow Of Light. All three wins have come at Newmarket too, with two coming on the July Course and his debut success over 6f on the Rowley Mile in May.
He has not been overly flashy in getting the job done, but nor has he come close to being beaten as yet. His defeat of Seagulls Eleven and Wimbledon Hawkeye in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes reads particularly well, with the runner-up going close in the National Stakes at the top table in Ireland. However, it has to be considered a negative that his yard have supplemented Shadow Of Light for some cost, and that does not speak overly to their confidence in their now second string.
THE FIELD
Seagulls Eleven also takes his chance here and looked to have stepped forward when third in Ireland last time. There is some form for him to overturn, but he is a likeable type and should give his running, especially if Oisin Murphy rides him prominently with a view to disrupting the bigger operations.
The other pair are both stablemates of The Lion In Winter as the Ballydoyle and Godolphin powerhouses dominate. Expanded is the last of the trio yet to lose, although he has won only a maiden to date. That was a good performance on debut and half-brother Henry Adams was fourth here a year ago, though expecting him to feature in a race such as this on just his second start, even in a small field, is a tough ask.
Rock Of Cashel is the other O’Brien resident, though his limitations as a two-year-old look to have been laid bare the last twice. He could make the running, a positive at Newmarket, and is a half-brother to 2021 Oaks winner Snowfall, so may well make a much better three-year-old. For now though, his talent does not look to match the resort.
Cesarewitch Handicap Tips 2024: Elliott And Spencer To Score In Newmarket Marathon
One of the betting highlights on Saturday afternoon is the Cesarewitch Handicap, as a huge field goes to post for the 2m 2f contest at 3:40pm. We may not have a full field lining up this year, but it’s still a real betting conundrum for punters and our in-house tipster Steve Chambers previews the race…
Fri 11 Oct 2024
VERDICT
Shadow Of Light’s supplementation needs to be taken seriously, and he hit the line strongly over 6f in the Middle Park. However, a slightly quicker surface on Saturday might ask different questions and his entry into the race does not speak to stable confidence in Ancient Truth, who would look an obvious type for this race otherwise. As a result, the safest bet is Derby favourite THE LION IN WINTER, whose Acomb form from York is very strong and he won that decisively. He already shapes like a middle distance horse, but he probably possesses inordinate ability and can take Aidan O’Brien into a solo lead with nine Dewhurst wins. Seagulls Eleven looks a consistent type who can be involved for much of the race, though the selection’s stablemates Expanded and Rock Of Cashel have more to prove.
- The Lion In Winter
- Shadow Of Light
- Ancient Truth
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