The most talented three-year-olds may grab the headlines as they set out in pursuit of Classic glory, but they are just one part of the flat racing tapestry. For many racing fans, the two-year-old programme is equally exciting as the potential stars of the future take their first steps on the track.
In common with all age groups, the juvenile programme caters to runners of all abilities – from low-level maidens and novices to the top-tier Group 1 events. British racing offers five Group 1 juvenile events, all of which offer significant prize money and are essential viewing with an eye to the Classics of the following year.
Four of the five juvenile Group 1s are held at Newmarket, with the Futurity Trophy the only exception. Of that quartet, the Middle Park Stakes, Cheveley Park Stakes and Fillies Mile have much to recommend them. However, the Dewhurst Stakes of October is the pick of the bunch. For those seeking an early sighting of a future superstar, this £500,000 contest has few equals.
Looking at the 21st century alone, the Dewhurst Stakes has fallen to five subsequent winners of the 2000 Guineas and a trio of Epsom Derby heroes, including the star of the 2024 campaign, City Of Troy. It is a race not to be missed!
2025 - Gewan
Having looked a Classic prospect in his first two starts of the season, Gewan had disappointed when fourth as the 6-5 favourite in the Champagne Stakes. This saw him set off as a largely unfancied outsider for the Dewhurst, but the colt put that poor Doncaster effort behind him here to upset the odds and deliver a memorable win. James Doyle settled the two-year-old close to the pace before moving to the front a furlong and a half out. Gewan then pulled clear of his rivals and held off 7-4 favourite Gstaad by three-quarters of a length, denying Aidan O'Brien a record ninth Dewhurst.
- 1st - Gewan 25/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd - Gstaad 7/4F, Jockey: Christophe Soumillon, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Distant Storm 9/4, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2024 - Shadow Of Light
Shadow Of Light repaid connections handsomely, with the £35,000 supplement they paid to get him into the race proving money very well spent. He had already won the Middle Park Stakes over six furlongs just two weeks earlier, with Charlie Appleby initially suggesting he would be finished for the season. Wisely, William Buick opted to saddle the late entry, rather than stablemate Ancient Truth, despite the extra furlong of the contest. As the field came together in the closing stages, Shadow Of Light showed a sharp turn of foot before displaying enough stamina to edge past Expanded.
- 1st - Shadow Of Light EvsF, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Expanded 12/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Ancient Truth 13/8, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2023 - City Of Troy
Few two-year-olds have arrived at the end of their juvenile campaign with quite the reputation City Of Troy had built. The unbeaten colt then strengthened it with a brilliant three-and-a-half-length victory despite soft ground that was expected to be unsuitable. Ryan Moore made the running from the first stride and City Of Troy powered further clear in the final quarter of a mile to show his class. The performance earned huge praise from Aidan O'Brien, who called him the best two-year-old he had trained. Joint owner Michael Tabor went even further, declaring the horse to be their Frankel.
- 1st - City Of Troy 8/15F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Alyanaabi 6/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Owen Burrows
- 3rd - Eben Shaddad 25/1, Jockey: Benoit De La Sayette, Trainer: John & Thady Gosden
2022 - Chaldean
Chaldean showed plenty of determination to win a tightly contested race for Andrew Balding and Frankie Dettori. The 5-2 joint-favourite led from the start and stuck firmly to the rail, with Royal Scotsman keeping the pressure on throughout. Dettori's mount refused to give up his advantage and eventually held on by just a head. It was an equally determined effort from Dettori, who battled through discomfort after a nasty fall earlier in the day. The other joint favourite, Nostrum, had been in contention in the closing stages of the contest but lacked anything extra in the final furlong as he slipped to third.
- 1st - Chaldean 5/2J, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Andrew Balding
- 2nd - Royal Scotsman 12/1, Jockey: Jim Crowley, Trainer: Paul & Oliver Cole
- 3rd - Nostrum 5/2J, Jockey: Richard Kingscote, Trainer: Sir Michael Stoute
2021 - Native Trail
Native Trail extended his unbeaten record to four with a composed performance at Newmarket. The Godolphin colt spent the earlier stages in the middle of the pack, giving William Buick a fair amount to do when the leaders began to quicken. Buick eventually moved the odds-on favourite away from the crowd to the rail, and into clear daylight, where Native Trail was able to show his class. He quickly picked up the leaders and powered away in the closing stages to win by two lengths.
- 1st - Native Trail 5/6F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Dubawi Legend 12/1, Jockey: James Doyle, Trainer: Hugo Palmer
- 3rd - Bayside Boy 9/1, Jockey: David Egan, Trainer: Roger Varian
2020 - St. Mark’s Basilica
St Mark's Basilica arrived at Newmarket after an unexpected change of plans. He had been due to run in France on Arc weekend, but Ballydoyle withdrew its horses because of concerns over contaminated feed. The Siyouni colt was instead rerouted to the Dewhurst and made the most of the opportunity. Frankie Dettori settled him into the race before finding a path through as the field split across the track. St Mark's Basilica swept past favourite Thunder Moon and pulled clear. It was a much-needed valuable win for a horse that cost a massive €1.7m at auction.
- 1st - St. Mark’s Basilica 10/1, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Wembley 15/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Thunder Moon 11/4F, Jockey: Declan McDonogh., Trainer: Joseph O’Brien
2019 - Pinatubo
Pinatubo had already established himself as one of the season's most exciting juveniles, but the Dewhurst presented a new challenge on soft ground. The 1-3 favourite was made to work harder than usual by Arizona, a Royal Ascot winner who refused to surrender in the closing stages. William Buick had to drive Pinatubo out to the line, but the colt eventually pulled two lengths clear to preserve his unbeaten record. The victory was Buick's first Dewhurst success and his first British Group One of the year after missing two months with a head injury. Not a bad way to make your return!
- 1st - Pinatubo 1/3F, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
- 2nd - Arizona 14/1, Jockey: Seamie Heffernan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Wichita 7/2, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2018 - Too Darn Hot
Too Darn Hot briefly looked vulnerable before producing the acceleration that had made him such an exciting prospect. Frankie Dettori found himself having to get to work with more than two furlongs remaining after Christmas set a strong pace. The even-money favourite initially appeared to be struggling, but once Dettori found clear daylight, Too Darn Hot produced a devastating turn of foot. He stormed away to win by two and three-quarter lengths and maintained his unbeaten record on his Group 1 debut.
- 1st - Too Darn Hot EvsF, Jockey: Frankie Dettori, Trainer: John Gosden
- 2nd - Advertise 7/1, Jockey: Oisin Murphy, Trainer: Martyn Meade
- 3rd - Anthony Van Dyck 11/4, Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2017 - U S Navy Flag
Aidan O'Brien dominated the Dewhurst in remarkable fashion as US Navy Flag led home a Ballydoyle clean sweep. Ryan Moore broke quickly from the inside stall before edging across to secure the rail and taking control by halfway. US Navy Flag kept finding enough to stay in front and pulled ahead late on, while the heavily fancied Expert Eye failed to settle and faded badly. The 4-7 favourite eventually finished last and was later found to be lame. For O'Brien, the victory completed an extraordinary 1-2-3-4 with Mendelssohn, Seahenge and Threeandfourpence claiming the places respectively.
- 1st - U S Navy Flag 5/1, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Mendelssohn 50/1, Jockey: Wayne Lordan, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Seahenge 9/1, Jockey: Donnacha O’Brien, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
2016 - Churchill
Odds-on favourite Churchill appeared to be Aidan O’Brien’s only serious contender here, but the Irish maestro secured an unexpected one-two finish. Stablemate Lancaster Bomber’s involvement was thought to be to act as a pace-setter, and he did a fine job in this regard. Brief concerns arose when Churchill looked in danger of being stuck in a pocket, but a gap emerged at the perfect time, giving Ryan Moore space to demand more. Churchill responded emphatically, pulling away from his rivals. Rather than tailing off in usual pace-setter fashion, Lancaster Bomber rallied powerfully late to take second place from Blue Point.
- 1st - Churchill 8/11F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Lancaster Bomber 66/1, Jockey: Colm O’Donoghue, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 3rd - Blue Point 8/1, Jockey: William Buick, Trainer: Charlie Appleby
2015
- 1st - Air Force Blue 4/6F, Jockey: Ryan Moore, Trainer: Aidan O’Brien
- 2nd - Massaat 20/1, Jockey: Paul Hanagan, Trainer: Barry Hills
- 3rd - Sanus Per Aquam 20/1, Jockey: Kevin Manning, Trainer: Jim Bolger