Two unbeaten colts go to post on Saturday afternoon in the Dewhurst Stakes which has unfortunately only attracted seven runners this year.
Too Darn Hot versus Sangarious will be the hors d'oeuvres on offer before the Cesarewitch that takes place 40 minutes later.
Held over the straight 7 furlongs of Newmarket’s Rowley Mile, the Dewhurst Stakes generally shows us who is the best two year old colt in Britain and Ireland and the race tends to give us a few clues for the following year’s 2,000 Guineas and Derby.
The Group One feature has produced no end of future stars, with Dawn Approach, Churchill, US Navy Flag and Frankel all stamping their authority on the race in recent years.
Trends And Statistics (Based On The Last 10 Renewals)
- Seven winners had won over seven furlongs or beyond.
- Six favourites have been successful but three winners have been returned between 20/1 & 33s.
- Eight winners made their debut after April.
- All ten winners had raced at least three times.
- All ten winners ran in a Group race on their preceding start.
- Six winners won their preceding start, nine finished in the first four.
- Three winners were unbeaten.
- Five winners had won a race at Group Two or above and all bar one of the exceptions had been placed at Group Two or above.
The Contenders
The John Gosden-trained two-year-old Too Darn Hot is the market leader and we make him an EVENS money shot here at 888sport.
The brother of Lah Ti Dar and So Mi Dar is impeccably bred and his season has gone from strength to strength, most recently when he claimed his third victory from as many starts by taking the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster last month with relative ease.
The son of Dubawi is a short favourite to round off an unbeaten juvenile campaign on the Rowley Mile and will more than likely be made the ante-post favourite for next year’s 2000 Guineas if he does so.
Naturally something will have to give on Saturday afternoon and one of those unbeaten colts will have to blot their copybook.
Well regarded at home, Sir Michael Stoute’s Sangarious looks the most likely candidate choice to give Too Darn Hot a race on Saturday.
The son of Kingman made a successful racecourse debut at Newmarket in August before stepping up to Listed class to win the Flying Scotsman Stakes at Doncaster.
Already well fancied next year’s 2000 Guineas, Stoute’s two-year-old should be able to serve it up to the favourite in this small, but competitive field.
Having missed taking up his entry in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last weekend, it appears that firing on all cylinders is the Aidan O’Brien-trained Anthony Van Dyck.
Anthony Van Dyck, second in the National Stakes to Quorto last time out, looks to be Ballydoyle’s number one in this field and hails from a stable that boasts six previous Dewhurst winners, including the last three.
As always it would be complete folly to rule out any Aidan O’Brien horse in a big race and as well as holding a leading chance with Anthony Van Dyck, he also sends out Mohawk and Christmas.
Mohawk was victorious in the Royal Lodge last time but gives the impression that his distance is at a mile plus and may be a bit tapped for toe in this field.
Christmas is a likeable sort and came third in the National Stakes last time out. However the suspicion is that he will be used to set up the race for Anthony Van Dyck here.
Another horse firmly in the mix is the Martyn Meade-trained Advertise. Since being narrowly beaten by Calyx in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot, the colt cosily won the July Stakes at Newmarket, then went on to Group One glory in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh.
With the emphasis being firmly around the two unbeaten colts and the O’Brien runners the Meade horse could quite easily get overlooked in the betting and could be really good value come the off.
Richard Hannon’s Kuwait Currency completes the field. Winner of his last two races at Lingfield and Salisbury, the Sheikh Abdullah Almalek Alsabah will significantly have to step up yet another notch to trouble the market leaders here.
Conclusion
With there being every chance that the two market principles get themselves involved in a long protracted speed dual up front, it may fall to Martyn Meade’s Advertise to pick up the pieces should they falter.
888sport suggests: Advertise (e/w).
*Odds subject to change - correct at time of writing*
