Magnificent Entry for Darley Dewhurst Stakes

The Group One £250,000 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, October 16, has received 139 entries, 26 more than last season.

Irish trainer Aidan O´Brien was successful in this prestigious seven-furlong event three years ago courtesy of Rock Of Gibraltar, who was gaining the second of his record seven successive Group One victories and for good measure the master of Ballydoyle also sent out second and third-placed Landseer and Tendulkar in 2001

This year O´Brien has an amazing 40 entries headed by Oratorio and Russian Blue, second and third respectively behind filly Damson in the Group One Independent Waterford Wedgwood Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh earlier this month.

Other notables among O´Brien´s powerful squad include Joyce, fifth behind Jim Bolger´s Democratic Deficit in the Group Two Anheuser Busch Railway Stakes having earlier won a maiden at Tipperary, Chinese Dragon, who could be anything after scoring on his second outing in a maiden at the Curragh on August 8 and being described by his trainer as a ´lovely horse,´ as well as the unraced Indigo Cat, another dark horse who cost $2.6 million as a yearling at the Keeneland September Sale and the unraced Tiger Dance, a full-brother to the 'Iron Horse' Giant´s Causeway.

The other powerhouse of international racing, Godolphin, has entered 13 juveniles including Dubai Millennium colt Dubawi, who won the Group Three Superlative Stakes at Newmarket in July, when proving half a length too powerful for Henrik, Perfectperformance, a three-length winner of a Listed race at Salisbury last week and Council Member, who deserves a Group victory having been runner-up to Iceman in the Group Two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot in June and filling the same position behind Captain Hurricane in the Group Two TNT July Stakes at Newmarket the following month.

The Godolphin team is completed by Echo Of Light, Oude, Belenus, Blues And Royals, Crimson Sun, Great Britain, Jabraan, Librettist, Rose Rush and Munaddam.

Mark Johnston´s Middleham base houses the current favourite for next season´s UltimateBet.com 2000 Guineas favourite Shamardal, who was seriously impressive when winning the Group Two Veuve Clicquot Vinatge Stakes at Goodwood in July.

There are three French-trained entries including Layman, trained by Andre Fabre, and the John Hammond-trained pair of Walk In The Park and Gharir.

The first two of these three Gallic hopefuls finished first and third respectively in a race for unraced colts and geldings at Deauville in July, and Layman returned to the same venue to win the Group Three Prix de Cabourg by five lengths on the first day of August.

The international flavour is enhanced by the inclusion of the Roberto Brogi-trained Slapper as the sole Italian entry.

Other notables include Wilko, runner-up in last Friday´s Listed Stan James Stakes at Newbury, Montgomery´s Arch and Mystical Land, first and second in the Group Two Richmond Stakes at Goodwood, and the unbeaten Leo´s Lucky Star.

Michael Prosser, Clerk of the Course for Newmarket Racecourses, commented: 'It is tremendous to see such a good entry for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes, both in terms of quality and quantity. The contest often throws up a star of the future and forms an important part of Champions´ Day.'