Group One Dewhurst Stakes Guide 2021

The son of Oasis Dream was a 210,000gns purchase as a two year old and after that made his debut at Sandown over 7f when seeing off the Acomb Stakes and Royal Lodge Stakes winner Royal Patronage by four lengths.

Stepped up to the Group Two Superlative Stakes next time out he improved again to see off the smart Masekela and Dhabab to take the event close home.

Appleby normally saves his best two year old for the Group One Vincent O'Brien National Stakes at the Curragh across Irish Champions weekend having won the race with the likes of Quorto and Pinatubo in the past.

Native Trail went across the Irish Sea last time out and saw off the exciting Point Lonsdale by close to four lengths in another taking performance.

The colt has just gone from strength to strength this term and is a very exciting animal for next term aswell but he has a huge chance to round off the season unbeaten and a dual Group One winner by winning this event.

Bayside Boy represents Roger Varian in the race, with this son of New Bay looking like the big opposition to the odds on favourite

The colt won impressively on debut by a 3.25 length margin at Newbury over seven furlongs before subsequently stepping up to Listed company with a head second finish behind Masekala.

He improved once more when last seen in the four runner Group Two Champagne Stakes to just see off Reach For The Moon who was a heavy favourite that day.

He offers some lovely form heading into the race and looks extremely progressive with still more to come from him.

The best of the Irish chances comes from Straight Answer for Ger Lyons and Juddmonte with the colt unbeaten on both his starts to date and having been supplemented at a cost of £32,000 for this event he must be doing everything right at home.

The juvenile made his debut in August at the Curragh on soft ground winning a Maiden by close to two lengths.

Off the back he was last seen at the end of last month when stepping up to Listed company at Fairyhouse and he was an emphatic winner, taking the event by 5 1/2 lengths.

It is unknown just how good he is but connections think a lot of him and he could cause an upset.

It would not be a Dewhurst without an Aidan O'Brien horse and he fields the two year old Glouthaune, who is one of the biggest unknown entities in the field.

The son of Kodiac has been seen once to date, winning a Maiden in April by a neck to the highly impressive Castle Star that has gone on to frank the form at Group One level.

Having not been seen since then does leave him slightly vulnerable, but with the yard winning this seven times he could just be something special.

The two year old son of Dubawi brushed aside a decent field by five lengths in a Novice Stakes on quick ground on debut, clocking some decent sectionals.

Off the back of that he was favourite for the Group Three Acomb Stakes at York but was a disappointing third of five behind the smart Royal Patronage, who has since franked the form.

He is obviously a smart horse but has more to prove than most in this field, especially tackling his first Group One.

Andrew Balding’s two year old colt took a major step forward when winning the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot at the start of the season

Building on an opening success over five furlongs at Newbury, he took to the step up in trip and grade effortlessly to record an impressive victory in the Group Two event.

Off the back of that he has been seen twice more, stepping up to 7f for the first time at Glorious Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes when second to the Group One winning Angel Bleu and then last time out in the Gimcrack when running no race.

Could be out of his depth at this trip.

The penultimate runner is Go Bears Go who was a game winner of a novice event at Ascot before a narrow loss to Perfect Power at the same venue in the Norfolk Stakes.

His narrow defeat was left behind as David Loughnane took his charge to the Curragh and he made the trip worth it when winning the Group Two Railway Stakes with a bit in hand.

Returning to Ireland as favourite for the Phoenix Stakes, he had to settle for third place behind Ebro River and Dr Zempf.

Not seen since then he returned last time out over six furlongs in the Group One Middle Park Stakes and ran a credible race to finish a narrow fourth.

Stepping him up to 7f looks a strange one with his pace being one of his best assets.

The final runner of the event is the talented Dhabab, but for all the promise he has shown, he is still yet to deliver at the highest level and looks vulnerable in this field and at 7f.

John & Thady enter their colt Dhabab for the contest, who has been knocking on the door in all of his contests this year but doesn't seem to have the cutting edge to win big races.

The son of No Nay Never was a huge eye-catcher to fly home to win from the rear on debut at Leicester (6f), however was luckless next time out in the Coventry Stakes when hitting traffic inside the final furlong when loaded up for a big run.

The step up to 7f next time out at Newmarket in the Superlative Stakes didn't quite go to plan when showing little in the final furlong despite going off as favourite for the contest, fading into third.

He was last seen back at 6f at Newbury in the Group Two Mill Reef stakes when again being well backed but not able to threaten the winners.

Needs more at this level and trip.