Following a fantastic Arc weekend, the domestic action takes centre stage on Saturday, with the pick of the entertainment coming from Newmarket.
Kicking off on Friday, the two-day Dubai Future Champions Festival features one of the biggest staying handicaps of the season in the form of the Cesarewitch Handicap and no fewer than nine Group-class contests – spearheaded by the Group 1 double act of the Fillies’ Mile and the Dewhurst Stakes.
The second of those contests serves as the classy centrepiece to the Saturday card as a host of juvenile colts with Classic aspirations battle over seven furlongs of the Rowley Mile. As is so often the case ahead of British Group 1 affairs, the Ballydoyle yard of Aidan O’Brien is the centre of attention. Sitting atop the Dewhurst market in 2024 is the horse who also heads the betting for the 2025 editions of the 2,000 Guineas and the Epsom Derby.
Lion Lays Unbeaten Record on the Line
Sired by the brilliant Sea The Stars and out of the pattern class Lope De Vega mare, What A Home, The Lion In Winter looks the part on paper, but no more so than many of his regally bred two-year-old stablemates. However, his performances at the track have rocketed the good-looking bay to the head of the juvenile rankings.
Making his debut in a Maiden event at the Curragh in July, the market suggested The Lion In Winter may play second fiddle to stablemate Ides Of March. That assessment looked about right approaching the final furlong…and then the mount of Wayne Lordan sprouted wings to produce a relentless run down the outside, to which his rivals had no answer. More than two lengths clear at the line, an immediate step up in class was the order of the day for his next assignment.
Pitched into the Group 3 Tattersalls Acomb Stakes at the York Ebor Festival, the €375,000 purchase was only second choice in the market, behind Godolphin’s Ruling Court, who had routed the opposition in a Sandown Maiden on debut. Prominent from the off, The Lion In Winter employed different tactics to his debut success, but the result was the same – taking up the running three furlongs from home, he never looked like relinquishing the lead en route to a comfortable victory by just short of two lengths.
Acomb Form Franked
Consisting of inexperienced runners, it is often hard to judge the merit of performances in Group class juvenile events in the early-mid season. However, the fact that The Lion In Winter smashed York’s juvenile course record suggested that the 2024 Acomb was one of the hottest 2-Y-O contests of the season.
That assessment is supported by the subsequent performances of those who finished behind the trailblazing winner. Runner-up Wimbledon Hawkeye landed the Group 2 Juddmonte Royal Lodge Stakes next time out; third-placed The Waco Kid scored in the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes, whilst ninth-home Yaroogh did his bit for the form when claiming a handicap event at Doncaster.
Godolphin Provide Stiff Opposition
Given his connections, pedigree, and rock-solid form, The Lion In Winter looks like a tough nut to crack in the Dewhurst Stakes. However, there is no such thing as a one-horse race, and if there is a surprise result, one of the following duo may be most likely to provide it.
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- Shadow Of Light – The market suggests that the Blue of Godolphin may provide the stiffest opposition, with this late supplementary entry leading the charge. Much too good for Maiden and Novice opposition on his first two starts, he came up just short in the Group 2 Gimcrack Stakes but booked his ticket for this when slamming Aidan O’Brien’s Whistlejacket in the Group 1 Middle Park Stakes last time. If handling the step up from six furlongs, he may give the favourite something to think about
- Ancient Truth – Having ended the unbeaten record of one Godolphin runner when mastering Ruling Court, The Lion In Winter may find another in his way in the shape of this impressive Dubawi colt. Already a winner over this trip in Group 2 company, he boasts a three-and-a-half length verdict over Wimbledon Hawkeye on his CV, which, on paper, compares favourably with The Lion In Winter’s Acomb victory
Record Setting Result for O’Brien?
Currently sitting on eight Dewhurst wins, O’Brien shares the top spot with late 19th/early 20th Century trainers John Porter and Frank Butters in the all-time trainer’s table. If the Lion In Winter extends his perfect record to three, he will join an illustrious list of former O’Brien-trained Dewhurst winners, including:
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- Rock Of Gibraltar (2001) – Seven-time Group 1 winner, including the 2,000 Guineas, the Irish 2,000 Guineas, the St James’s Palace Stakes, the Sussex Stakes, and the Prix du Moulin
- Churchill (2016) – 2017 English and Irish 2,000 Guineas champ
- U S Navy Flag (2017) – 2018 July Cup hero
- St Mark’s Basilica (2020) – Enjoyed a spectacular 2021 with Group 1 triumphs in the Poule d’Essai des Poulains, the Prix du Jockey Club, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Irish Champion Stakes
- City Of Troy (2023) – Amongst the hot favourites for 2024 Horse of the Year honours following top-level wins in the Epsom Derby, the Coral-Eclipse, and the Juddmonte International