Dewhurst Stakes: runner-by-runner guide and tip

Nine colts have been declared for Saturday’s feature at Newmarket, the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, and it looks set to be an absolute cracker.

The fact that a horse from Charlie Appleby’s yard who almost landed the Solario Stakes is the 66-1 outsider tells you all you need to know about the strength in depth to this year’s blue-riband juvenile event.

At the head of the market, there is little to separate Distant Storm, Gstaad and Zavateri. All three have won Group races impressively this year and each could be a short-priced favourite in a ‘average edition of the Dewhurst – but this looks a cut above.

Here is a runner-by-runner guide and my fancy for this year’s renewal.

Trainer: Karl Burke.  Jockey: Clifford Lee.  Best odds: 14-1.

Somewhat of an unknown quantity, this son of Dandy Man was a five-length winner of a Leicester novice on debut, before picking up over €135,000 for his efforts in the Tatteralls Ireland Super Auction Sales Stakes where he won by three and a half lengths.

It will be interesting to see how he fares in this much deeper race, but he has done nothing wrong so far. Karl Burke is operating at an impressive 28 per cent strike rate with his juveniles.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby.  Jockey: William Buick.  Best odds: 5-2.

Last seen winning the Tattersalls Stakes by almost five lengths over the Dewhurst course and distance, this beautifully-bred son of Night Of Thunder, out of the only foal produced by the great George Washington has every chance of taking his tally at HQ to three from three.

A narrow winner of a very strong maiden on the July Course first time out, he was then sent to York for the Acomb Stakes, but the writing was on the wall early as he was very keen throughout the race and failed to settle. He ultimately did well to finish third.

However, he looked like a real professional when winning here last time out and, whilst this is tougher, he rates a strong contender. It is worth remembering that Appleby has won this three times in the past six years.

Trainer: Andrew Balding. Jockey: James Doyle. Best odds: 20-1.

Andrew Balding’s colt took his record to two from two by landing the Acomb Stakes over the re-opposing Italy and Distant Storm, but arrived here off the back of a disappointing fourth in the Champagne Stakes.

He shaped better than the bare result there, not being the fastest away and looking slightly outpaced in the business end of the contest, and whilst it did not look a vintage renewal of the race at the time, the winner Puerto Rico has since followed up, whilst the third has also came out and won next time.

This is tougher, but back on faster ground, it would be no surprise should he run with credit.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Christophe Soumillon. Best odds: 3-1.

Aidan O’Brien has won five of the past ten Dewhursts and another win in the race would see him become the standalone record holder with nine victories.

His main chance of adding to that tally of wins comes from Gstaad, who, despite being beaten the past twice, it could be argued has improved with each run and certainly stayed seven furlongs when beaten a head by Zavateri in the National Stakes at the Curragh last time out. (two and a half lengths ahead of Italy).

Prior to that he had won the Coventry Stakes in style and found just Venetian Sun (who ran well in the Moyglare subsequently) too strong in the Prix Morny.

He is drawn alongside market rival Distant Storm with the pair in stalls six and seven respectively.

Trainer: Aidan O’Brien. Jockey: Wayne Lordan. Best odds: 11-1.

After making a winning debut in May, Aidan O’Brien then sent this son of Wootton Bassett to the Superlative Stakes, where he finished just over a length behind Saba Desert. On another day he may very well have won the race.

A second in the Acomb and a third in the National Stakes have since followed, fine efforts – but he will need to find improvement to turn the tables on his better-fancied stablemate.

Trainer: John and Thady Gosden. Jockey: Oisin Murphy. Best odds: 17-2.

Oxagon also made his debut in the hot July Festival maiden won by Distant Storm. He then bolted up to win by eight lengths on his second start. Sent off a 13-8 chance for the Champagne Stakes on his third start last time out, he went down by a head to the strong staying Puerto Rico, who ha since comfortably landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.

A tad short of room at Doncaster, he should get a clearer run of things here and as you’d expect for a race like this, is another that arrives here in progressive form. Hard to rule out.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: Rossa Ryan. Best odds: 66-1.

Appleby will not be landing the Middle Park/Dewhurst double against his year, as Wise Approach is missing from the declarations, but he does have a daughter of a Cheveley Park Stakes winner in Pacific Avenue, who is a big outsider for this despite some good runs this summer.

After beating Wild Desert on debut at the July Course, he then looked like winning the Solario Stakes yards from the line, only to finish fourth, beaten half a length by the winner.

He took a slight step back when filling that same spot in the Royal Lodge behind Bow Echo, and steps back down to 7f here which is probably a good move. He is a likely pace angle here under Rossa Ryan, and given the horse he  beat on debut was an unlucky third in the Superlative next time out, form tying in with Italy, it could easily be argued he is overpriced for this at around 66-1.

Trainer: Charlie Appleby. Jockey: Billy Loughnane. Best odds: 33-1.

Another Moulton Paddocks outsider, connections have opted for first-time cheekpieces in an effort to revitalise him after a disappointing sixth or six in the National Stakes.

He looked exciting before than no-show, having won on debut and gone two from two by winning the Superlative by just over a length from Italy.

He is drawn nearest the stands in stall nine and it would be a tall order for him to jump back to winning ways in this deeper heat. One thing in his favour is a return to faster ground, although he is bred to stay further than this and a step up in trip is surely not far away for this son of Dubawi.

Trainer: Eve Johnson Houghton. Jockey: Charles Bishop. Best odds: 10-3.

Bought for 35,000gns as a yearling 12 months’ ago by his excellent trainer and Highflyer Bloodstock, Zavateri has not put a foot wrong all year and has progressed through the grades in four starts. He was last seen landing the National Stakes by a head over Gstaad, having already won the Vintage Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the July Stakes at Newmarket as well as his maiden success.

He has looked just as good, if not better, over seven furlongs the last twice and is one of the major players here. Having been there and done it at the top level, he sets the standard, but this is a potentially deeper contest and the question will be whether he can find that little bit extra again to hold off some well-bred improvers from some of the leading yards in the country.

A super race in prospect, the verdict narrowly goes the way of DISTANT STORM, who is unlikely to be as keen as he was at York with a strong pace to suit here and he was a breathtaking winner over this course and distance when last seen. He can become yet another big race winner at this Dubai-sponsored meeting for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby.

1 DISTANT STORM. 2 GSTAAD. 3 OXAGON. 4 ZAVATERI. 5 PACIFIC AVENUE. 6 GEWAN. 7 ALPARSLAN. 8 ITALY. 9 SABA DESERT.