Dewhurst preview

Charlie Appleby feels excitement rather than pressure as Emotionless puts his unbeaten record on the line in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday.

While having an army of horses at his disposal, it is the first time the Newmarket handler has found himself in the position of having a serious Classic contender in his care since taking control at Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks yard almost two and a half years ago.

An impressive winner on his debut on the July Course in August, the two-year-old showed he is a colt of considerable potential when easing to an effortless success in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster, a victory which saw his odds dramatically cut for next year's Qipco 2000 Guineas, for which he is a best-priced 6-1.

Appleby said: "I am very fortunate to be surrounded by, and have the support of, Sheikh Mohammed and John Ferguson (racing and bloodstock advisor).

"We are doing our best at the yard and they support us in whatever will benefit the horses. It is not so much pressure that we feel going into this, but excitement.

"If we win the Dewhurst then we can look at the Guineas and the St James's Palace Stakes, as our aim is to produce Classic and Group One winners.

"The most important thing is that unbeaten tag, as I don't want to lose that. It is different to having a horse that is beaten first time out and then progresses.

"As he is unbeaten it puts a different spin on it. It is exciting to have a horse like that on our hands and it would be great if we could win it with a horse of his pedigree."

Despite bookmakers pricing up the illustrious seven-furlong Group One contest as a battle between Emotionless and the Aidan O'Brien-trained Air Force Blue, Appleby considers it to be more than a two-horse race.

He said: "There are seven runners in the race and all the right ones have stood their ground.

"There are a couple of other horses in there that are going the right way. I fully respect the John Gosden runner Tashweeq who won the Flying Scotsman Stakes (at Doncaster), a race we took a look at.

"Sanus Per Aquam is another that I respect, having won the Tattersall Stakes well, and that experience of the track under his belt will help.

"We are not running away from anybody at this level, but I feel that I have the best horse that I've trained on my hands and I am looking forward to it."

In order to get Emotionless acquainted with the Rowley Mile, and ready for his step up to the top table, Appleby sent him to the track to participate in a racecourse gallop last week, which he passed with flying colours.

He said: "We have been very pleased with him since the Champagne Stakes. I took him up there (Rowley Mile) to gain more experience, both on the track and in the paddock.

"He worked six furlongs with two lead horses and travelled into and out of the dip well, as that can sometimes catch them out. He ticked all the right boxes."

Although no stranger to success at Group One level, having landed the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf with Outstrip in 2013 and last season's Middle Park Stakes with Charming Thought, Appleby is clear in his mind the son of Shamardal has the right credentials to better those achievements.

He said: "This horse's presence is fantastic and he is by a great Darley stallion. Not disrespecting the other two (Charming Thought and Outstrip), but he has much more scope than both of them.

"Whatever he did as a two-year-old was always going to be a bonus. It would be disappointing if he did get beat on Saturday, but he will be much better at three when he strengthens into that frame."

Not only is the race on paper one of the most exciting two-year-old clashes of the season, it also sees the first real duel in a long time of any substance between two of the sport's greatest superpowers, Godolphin and Coolmore - something Appleby feels adds further interest.

He added: "These battles and clashes are what you want to be in as you know have the right sort of horse. It is good for racing and very exciting to be part of, while it is great for the Future Champions Festival to have a race like this."