Racing powerhouses Godolphin and Coolmore are responsible for five of the six declarations in Saturday’s Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket.
The Lion In Winter, Expanded and Rock Of Cashel will all be bidding to give trainer Aidan O'Brien a record-extending ninth success in the Group 1 prize, with the first-mentioned topping the betting as he attempts to enhance his Classic credentials.
A commanding winner of the Group 3 Acomb Stakes at York in August, the striking son of Sea The Stars will be hoping to emulate the great Breeders' Cup Classic-bound City Of Troy, who was oh so impressive in this contest twelve months ago for team Ballydoyle.
However, his task will be by no means straightforward with Godolphin's Moulton Paddocks handler launching a strong two-pronged attack spearheaded by the supplemented Shadow Of Light, who readily brushed aside Whistlejacket when bouncing back to his best in the six-furlong Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile last month.
The former will be partnered by William Buick, with James Doyle set for a first spin on the unbeaten Ancient Truth. The Dubawi colt took his record to a perfect three from three with a decisive victory over the reopposing Seagulls Eleven in the Group 2 Superlative Stakes on the July Course in the summer. That form has worked out nicely with the third-placed horse Wimbledon Hawkeye, who was also behind The Lion In Winter at York in August, going on to land the Group 2 Royal Lodge in impressive style for James Owen and the Gredley family.
Hugo Palmer's Seagulls Eleven is the only horse not trained by Appleby or O'Brien. The son of Palmer's 2000 Guineas hero Galileo Gold runs under the Two Plus Three Two Plus Four ownership title, which is a syndicate made up of Brighton & Hove Albion footballers including James Milner. Seagulls Eleven was last seen finishing a very respectable third in the Group 1 National Stakes at the Curragh last month.
Elsewhere on the card, the Club Godolphin Cesarewitch has only attracted a final field of 25, nine short of the maximum field of 34.
Willie Mullins' Sea Of Sands heads the betting, while nephew Emmett will be hoping The Shunter can provide him with back-to-back Cesarewitch's. The Shunter will be joined by stablemate Jacovec Cavern, with the unexposed five-year-old set to be partnered by Hayley Turner for the first time.
