Emotionless & Blue set for Dewhurst clash Charlie Appleby is excited about the prospect of seeing impressive At The Races Champagne Stakes winner Emotionless take on Air Force Blue in the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket next month. The imposing son of Shamardal followed up his stylish maiden victory at Newmarket when making it two wins from as many starts with a three-and-a-half-length cruise in the Group Two contest at the weekend. With the Newmarket trainer stressing an outing in the Group One contest on October 10th is now on the agenda, he is on course to collide with Aidan O Brien's National Stakes winner after the Rowley Mile feature was also mentioned as his most likely next port of call. Appleby said: "Emotionless had a jog this morning and looks great. Hopefully we will get a clear run until the Dewhurst. I am delighted to have a horse of this calibre for the boss (Sheikh Mohammed) to go into Future Champions Day with. "It is exciting with Aidan O'Brien's National Stakes winner likely to go there too. It is the next step forward for us taking on a Group One winner if he heads there and it would be great for racing and great for us if he does. "We have been fortunate to have two nice experiences to go into a Group One. The Dewhurst will be it for him win, lose or draw. He is a big, scopey two-year-old and whatever he achieved this year was always going to be a bonus." Although having enjoyed top-level success with two-year-olds in the past, Appleby is of the opinion Emotionless - who is 6-1 second-favourite behind Air Force Blue for the Qipco 2000 Guineas with most firms - looks to be a cut above. Appleby said: "Obviously it is nice to have an opinion about a horse and see them bring their homework to the track. It was the best visual performance that I have seen by a two-year-old. "The way he won so impressively first time out we had to take the Champagne Stakes into serious consideration. "He has always stood up like a nice horse and has got a great pedigree. To see a jockey take a pull a furlong out like William (Buick) did on Saturday and have a look between his legs, you could see he had plenty left under the bonnet. "At this stage of his career he is the most exciting two-year-old we've had. Charming Thought went into the Middle Park as a 25-1 shot while Outstrip won in America (Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf), and as much as we thought he had a great chance he didn't quite have the same sort of profile as this horse. "It's nice to have a horse that is second-favourite in the Guineas as we have never been in that position before."
