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Darkness Falls denies Desert Castle in Dewhurst cracker

By Racing TV

Last Updated: Sat 10 Oct 2026

Darkness Falls gave Aidan O'Brien a record ninth win in the Darley Dewhurst Stakes when fending off Desert Castle in the Newmarket Group One.

Winner of the newly extended and upgraded Golden Fleece at Leopardstown last time, Darkness Falls was dropping two furlongs in distance here but was given a positive ride by Ryan Moore and as a result got first run on main market rival Desert Castle.

With the winner's stablemate Great Barrier Reef meeting traffic problems in behind, it was left to the two market principals to fight out the finish, and it was the son of Camelot who proved too strong late in the day.

Winning rider Moore, when asked about the horse's prospects as a potential 2000 Guineas horse, said: "You have to dream!

"He's a really good colt. He's proven that he has the speed to come back here, so a mile next year should be fine.

"There's more in the tank - going past the walkway here he had a look at it. How far he will stay I don't know, he has a lot of pace. It's unique [what he has done]."

O'Brien added: "It was a big call to come here - John [Magnier] made the call to come here.

"He's always had a lot of class. It's all great experience if he was to come back for the Guineas. He's going to have no problem getting a bit further next year.

"He's very exciting."

Today’s victory led to talk of the Triple Crown (to win the Betfred 2000 Guineas, Betfred Derby and Betfred St Leger) for Darkness Falls in 2027 – a feat achieved 15 times in the past but not since Nijinsky in 1970.

Like Darkness Falls, Nijinsky was trained at the famous Ballydoyle Stables in Ireland but by O’Brien’s predecessor as trainer, the unrelated Vincent O’Brien. Prior to his Triple Crown achievement in 1970, Nijinsky had won the 1969 Dewhurst Stakes. The only time the Triple Crown has been even attempted since 1970 was in 2012 by Darkness Falls’ sire Camelot, who won at Newmarket and Epsom Downs before finishing second at Doncaster.

Predictably cut significantly for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby, the winner is as short as 14-1 with Coral to complete the holy grail of the Triple Crown next season.

Charlie Appleby, trainer of runner-up Desert Castle, was far from despondent despite his Frankel colt being unable to match the achievements of his superstar sire.

He explained: "Naturally a bit disappointed but they are two smart colts. The one thing the winner was that we knew he was going to keep galloping, we knew we had to try and get past him. Unfortunately he didn't.

"Our fellow will benefit from a winter on his back. His racing brain is going the right way, and we will put him away now.

"And it's going to be a great race in the [2000] Guineas.

"We will see how mentally sharp he is in the spring. We could go to the Craven or to Newbury, but I normally prefer to go straight to the Guineas."

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