The G1 Dewhurst Stakes (1400m) has been the foremost two-year-old race in the United Kingdom since its inception around 150 years ago, and it is the highlight of five World Pool races from Newmarket on Saturday (11 October).
In recent times, this Group 1 contest has often been dominated by one brilliant youngster, illustrated by the fact that hot favourites have won it in eight of the last ten years. However, this isn't the case in 2025 with three chief protagonists and many others attempting to grab the glory in the nine-runner field over Newmarket's straight 1400m course.
Godolphin trainer Charlie Appleby won the Dewhurst last year for the third time and is triple handed with likely favourite Distant Storm (William Buick) along with outsiders Saba Desert (Billy Loughnane) and Pacific Avenue (Rossa Ryan).
The trainer admits that tactics were faulty when Distant Storm – a €1.9 million (approx. HK$17.1 million) two-year-old purchase – proved way too keen after being asked to race forwardly in York's G3 Acomb Stakes (1400m) in August. He faded into third behind Saturday's rivals Gewan (James Doyle) and Italy (Wayne Lordan).
It was a different story when Distant Storm smoothly quickened from off the pace to win the G3 Tattersalls Stakes (1400m) at Newmarket last month.
Appleby said: "We were adamant to drop him in then and let the race develop in front of him. In doing so we saw his acceleration."
This is Distant Storm's first try at Group 1 level but Zavateri (Charles Bishop) and Gstaad (Christophe Soumillon) have already been there, having fought out a riveting finish to the G1 Vincent O'Brien National Stakes (1400m) at the Curragh.
It was by a head that Zavateri stretched his unbeaten record to four that day in September, yet again bravely defying betting expectations with each of those victories coming at odds of 5/1 or higher.
"Zavateri is a superstar. He really is. Not only is he so brave but he just keeps on improving," trainer Eve Johnson Houghton said.
Oisin Murphy partners Oxagon and plenty of support looks guaranteed for the John & Thady Gosden-trained son of Frankel. He obliterated a subsequent dual winner by eight lengths in a 1400m Sandown novices' event in July, and then his second in Doncaster's G2 Champagne Stakes (1405m) got a major boost last weekend; Puerto Rico – his front-running one-length conqueror that day – easily landed the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere (1400m) at ParisLongchamp.
The Cesarewitch Handicap over 3600m boasts an even longer history than the Dewhurst, and there are few more popular handicaps in the United Kingdom's racing season than this marathon.
Interestingly, eight of the last ten winners have had no more than three starts on the Flat during the season. Those fitting this profile on Saturday include William Buick's mount Bunting and Winter Fog (Sean D Bowen), both trained by three-time Cesarewitch-winning trainer Willie Mullins – a legendary figure of Jumps racing. Another is Reverend Hubert, handled by Charles Byrnes, a notably astute Irish-based trainer. The seven-year-old's runaway victory in a trial over this course and distance last month indicated that a big show on Saturday looks on the cards.
