O'Brien dominates Dewhurst fourteen Aidan O'Brien is responsible for eight of the 14 six-day acceptors for Saturday's Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. His octet includes Coventry and Futurity Stakes winner War Command and the unbeaten Great White Eagle, while Craftsman, Friendship, Giovanni Boldini, Michaelmas, Oklahoma City and Wilshire Boulevard complete the Ballydoyle team. Godolphin have two representatives in Champagne Stakes winner Outstrip (Charlie Appleby) and Be Ready (Saeed bin Suroor), both of whom were supplemented at a cost of £30,000 each. David Wachman could run Sudirman, July Stakes hero Anjaal is Richard Hannon's only representative and Cable Bay is Charles Hills sole entry. Stormardal completes the field but he does hold an alternative entry in the Group Three Autumn Stakes. The son of Shamardal would be stepping up in grade, having won a maiden at the third attempt and finishing third to Safety Check in a Newmarket nursery over a mile on his latest start. "We decided to enter him in the Dewhurst and the Group Three (Autumn Stakes). We will see which one to go for. The horse is doing well," said trainer Ismail Mohammed. "It will be a step up, but he is showing us something. He is working very well and loves soft ground. Next year I think he will stay a mile and a half. He is improving, but we are not running him too much this year." Michael Prosser, head of racing for the East region for the Jockey Club, is very excited about this year's stellar card and pointed out just how good the 2012 meeting proved to be in identifying top-class performers. He said: "The day is all about showcasing the stars of the future. Let's not forget at the same meeting 12 months ago Dawn Approach, Just The Judge and Trading Leather were successful and all three went on to win Classics in 2013. "We are very pleased with the quality and quantity of entries at the five-day stage and the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes once again looks as if it will be Europe's defining two-year-old race of the season." Prosser revealed that he was delighted with the condition of the course although an uncertain forecast could pose some problems later in the week. "For the entire home straight, we have specifically saved - for Dubai Future Champions Day - a 20-metre strip on the stands' side that has not been raced upon since May. It is in extremely good condition. "The going is currently good to firm and the forecast is for it to remain mainly dry through until Thursday. Then it is expected to become cooler with rain overnight Thursday and into Friday. There is some uncertainty about volume," he revealed.
