Distant Storm and Zavateri among 14 confirmations for Dewhurst

Charlie Appleby will be keeping an eye on the weather, with conditions at Newmarket set to determine if Distant Storm will take his chance against the unbeaten Zavateri in Saturday’s Darley Dewhurst Stakes.

The son of Night Of Thunder is one of 14 left in the mix for the Rowley Mile’s final Group One of the season and impressed when landing the Tattersalls Stakes over course and distance last month.

Appleby – who has won the Dewhurst three times in the last six years, including last year with Shadow Of Light – could now unleash the exciting prospect in Group One company having been pleased with his well-being since his recent track triumph.

He said: “It will all depend on Mother Nature, but he’s in good order and has come out of his last race well and we’ll keep an eye on it until closer to the race.

“A race like he had the other week could leave a mark if you’re asking a serious question, but to be fair, William (Buick) didn’t really have to pick him up. He’s come out of it well and I’m very happy.”

Pacific Avenue and Saba Desert are others for Appleby, with Distant Storm right at the head of the betting for the seven-furlong event alongside Eve Johnson Houghton’s National Stakes hero Zavateri.

Aidan O’Brien again promises to provide strong opposition to Johnson Houghton’s star, with Curragh second and third Gstaad and Italy among six possibles for Ballydoyle, along with Hawk Mountain, Frescobaldi, Dorset and Brussels.

Oxagon is a contender full of promise for John and Thady Gosden, having finished runner-up to O’Brien’s Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere hero Puerto Rico in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, in what was just his second racecourse appearance.

Roger Varian has left in Doncaster winner Wechaad, Karl Burke is represented by Alparslan, who is another unbeaten runner and is fresh from claiming a big sales race prize at the Curragh, and Andrew Balding could run Gewan.

Appleby enjoyed a fine Future Champions weekend this time 12 months ago and as well as Shadow Of Light’s Dewhurst success, also saddled Desert Flower to win the previous day’s Fillies’ Mile before returning in the spring to claim Classic honours in the 1000 Guineas.

The Godolphin handler has given himself the chance of repeating the dose after supplementing Sweet Solera Stakes winner Dance To The Music for Friday’s bet365-sponsored event.

Last seen going close in Woodbine’s Natalma Stakes, Appleby said: “She’s come out of her Grade One in Canada well and when we looked at the race we thought there are plenty of others having a crack at it and she deserves a crack herself.”