Dewhurst Stakes Guide

1. Arizona

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Seamie Heffernan

The first runner of the contest and one of four from the Ballydoyle yard is Arizona who started her racing life well taking the Group two Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.

However, since then she has not been able to match that form when stepping to Group One form finishing midfield in the Prix Morny and then last time out finishing way behind Pinatubo at the Curragh.

He looks again like he is settling for second best and in this field will have to improve massively to even get that.

2. Iffraz

Trainer - Mark Johnston

Jockey - James Doyle

The big outsider of the field comes from Mark Johnston's yard and Iffraz looks very opposable in this company, not that the horse isn't a smart juvenile but he looks very much out of his depth here.

He finished third last time out in a Nursery Handicap at Doncaster that did not look the highest of standards and even with improvement a few look to good for him.

3. Monarch Of Egypt

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Wayne Lordan

The second of O'Brien's brigade is another of the outsiders on display in the field and Monarch Of Egypt can put his last run behind him he could feature strongly.

Before his run in the Middle Park at Newmarket two weeks ago where he finished last of eight runners he had been in strong form with a win and two good seconds.

He finished a narrow second behind Siskin in the Group One Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh on soft ground and if taking to the surface again with the added step up in trip he might be interesting.

4. Mystery Power

Trainer - Richard Hannon

Jockey - Oisin Murphy

Richard Hannon has had some really smart two year olds this season and Mystery Power for King Power Racing looks up there with the best of them.

He started his campaign nicely with two wins including at Newmarket on the July course in the Group Two Superlative Stakes beating a smart field of juveniles.

From there it has been an uphill task in better company when finishing well behind Pinatubo in the Vintage Stakes at Goodwood who sets the standard in this race.

He did perform better when dropped to six furlongs again when a good second in the Mill Reef Stakes at Newbury but the soft ground and lack of Group One experience could find him out here.

5. Pinatubo

Trainer - Charlie Appleby

Jockey - William Buick

The juvenile to beat in the Dewhurst is Pinatubo who has been the stand out seven furlong two year old of the season being unbeaten in all five of his contests to date.

The two year old last time out gave the performance of his career landing his first Group One of his career in the National Stakes at the Curragh beating a superb field of youngsters by close to 10 lengths, which saw the colt get a rating of 128 two pounds higher than the might Frankel at that age.

This will be the Godolphin superstars final run of the season before being put away for a big three year old campaign and it would take something special to see him get beat.

6. Positive

Trainer - Clive Cox

Jockey - Adam Kirby

Positive has raced three times during his short career showing plenty of ability, winning on his debut at Salisbury in good style showing he was a class above the competition that day.

He then stepped up to a Group Two at Goodwood in the Vintage Stakes and ran a cracker but was still five lengths behind the winner Pinatubo who he is hoping he will be able to get a lot closer to this time around.

The colt heads into this Group One off the back of a big win last time out at Sandown when taking the Group Three Solario Stakes and if coming on again for that run could snatch a place.

7. Royal Commando

Trainer - Charles Hills

Jockey - Kieran Shoemark

Another runner on the outskirts of the betting is Royal Commando for Charles Hills who looks very much out the picture on ratings and performances.

He was fourth last time out in the Mill Reef Stakes behind Mystery Power and with that juvenile nowhere near the standard needed in this company it could be a tricky race for him to go close.

8. Wichita

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Ryan Moore

Arguably the biggest challenge to Pinatubo on the Saturday is Wichita who was supplemented into the contest for £40,000 on Monday.

He has raced three times winning two and placing in another with his latest performance showing his progressive nature when winning the Group Three Tattersalls Stakes over course and distance.

Very much unproven on soft like many of these runners and will have to come on a lot to match the Godolphin favourite but the Ballydoyle team are bullish about his chances.

9. Year Of The Tiger

Trainer - Aidan O'Brien

Jockey - Padraig Beggy

The final runner of the race and the last of the Irish raid on the contest is Year Of The Tiger who looks to be in the contest to cause havoc for the favourite and help his stablemates out.

O'Brien is well known for his coups in big races with big priced winners but even this looks a bit to much to ask with the juvenile needing to improve close to 30 pounds on ratings to be near the front.