Darley Dewhurst Stakes
Group 1, Newmarket 15:00
£500,000 guaranteed,
2yo only,
7f, Class 1   
Saturday 11th October 2025

1 Gewan 25/1
2 Gstaad 7/4F
3 Distant Storm 9/4
9 ran Distances: ¾l, 1½l, ¾l
Time: 1m 23.39s (slow by 0.09s)

It was Gewan who lit up Newmarket with a 25-1 thunderbolt in what looked every inch a vintage renewal of the Group 1.

A grey trained by Andrew Balding, Gewan had dazzled when taking the Acomb at York, but the lustre dimmed next time when soft ground blunted his edge at Doncaster in the Champagne Stakes — a race that later threw up Group One winner Puerto Rico.

Here, though, there were no excuses. James Doyle had him right on the premises from the off, content to keep the Night Of Thunder colt handy before pressing the button three furlongs from home. The response was electric. As Gstaad, Distant Storm and the unbeaten Zavateri suddenly found themselves three lengths adrift, the only question was whether Gewan could sustain the gallop. He did — and then some.

Gstaad, the 7-4 favourite from Ballydoyle, had burned a little too much petrol early on and could only close to within three-quarters of a length at the line. Distant Storm kept on for third; Zavateri, fourth, lost nothing in defeat.

For Balding, it was a familiar script — he’d struck in this very race in 2022 with Chaldean, another Acomb winner who would go on to land the 2000 Guineas.

“We were saying before the race that he was overpriced, because his York performance was very good and we thought you had to forgive him Doncaster,” said the Kingsclere trainer. “So we weren’t without a hope, but you’ve still got to come and do it.

“He was given a brilliant ride by James and he’s a very good horse, this.

“The soft ground didn’t help at Doncaster, but I don’t think it was just that, for whatever reason he wasn’t at his best. But he was today.

“He’s very similar to Chaldean, but the only thing he hasn’t done is win at Doncaster, they’ve followed the same route.

“If you could forgive that Doncaster run he came here with every chance as the Acomb form was rock solid. It’s a relief, but his work at home suggested he would play a part today.”

Doyle, who’s no stranger to big-race days, was glowing in his praise for the colt’s professionalism.

“He killed them off between the three and the two and coped with the track so well,” he said. “There was no fluke whatsoever about that, he felt like a good horse. He quickened up very smartly and I knew he wouldn’t get caught.”

A front-running masterclass, a dash of redemption, and perhaps — just perhaps — the first hint of another classic contender from the Balding academy.

BoyleSports

Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (Group 1)
£500,000 guaranteed, 2yo only, 7f, Class 1
9 ran
Going: Good to Firm, Good in places

POS. (DRAW) FORM HORSE AGE WGT TRAINER JOCKEY SP
1 (5)    Gewan 2 9-3 Andrew Balding James Doyle 25/1
2 (6) ¾ Gstaad 2 9-3 A P O'Brien Christophe Soumillon 7/4F
3 (7) 1½ Distant Storm 2 9-3 Charlie Appleby William Buick 9/4
4 (3) ¾ Zavateri 2 9-3 Eve Johnson Houghton Charles Bishop 9/2
5 (2) ½ Oxagon 2 9-3 John & Thady Gosden Oisin Murphy 9/1
6 (8) 1¼ Alparslan 2 9-3 K R Burke Clifford Lee 50/1
7 (1) 1¾ Pacific Avenue 2 9-3 Charlie Appleby Rossa Ryan 33/1
8 (4) ¾ Italy 2 9-3 A P O'Brien Wayne Lordan 12/1
9 (9) 4¼ Saba Desert 2 9-3 Charlie Appleby Billy Loughnane 33/1