Dewhurst Stakes: latest on Vandeek, Alyanaabi and Iberian

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.

“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.”

An encouragingly dry forecast is increasing the prospect of Alyanaabi taking his chance in the Dewhurst.

The son of Too Darn Hot claimed the Tattersalls Stakes with a stylish late rattle and with his running style meaning minimal energy was exerted during his first taste of the Rowley Mile, a return to Newmarket for Group One action later this month could be on the cards.

Trainer Owen Burrows said: “He didn’t really have much of a race, he only really raced the last furlong and he ate up the next morning and didn’t lose a kilo in weight, so he didn’t have a hard time. The initial signs are he’s come out of it well.

“I will have a chat with Sheikha Hissa. I think he likes the ground on the faster side of good and the forecast I’ve seen looks predominantly good so we’ll see.”

Connections are relishing the prospect of the “brilliantly talented” Iberian lining up in the Dewhurst 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.

“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.

“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.

“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.”