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| Stars and Strips - Outstrip can shine in the Dewhurst on Future Champions' Day |
Last year’s Dewhurst saw Dawn Approach go off at a very short-price indeed and though this year’s Coventry winner War Command looks set to be the hot favourite for the race, he faces a field of five other horses including Godolphin’s talented Outstrip.
War Command turned in arguably the most visually impressive victory of the meeting at Royal Ascot when running away with the Coventry and immediately shot to the head of the betting for next year’s classics. The form of the Coventry hasn’t exactly worked out fantastically though and War Command himself gave it another knock when beaten at Group 1 level in the Phoenix Stakes in August.
The son of War Front soon bounced back to winning ways when landing the Group 2 Futurity Stakes at the Curragh though and leads the way here on ratings. Trainer Aidan O’Brien could have run any number here and the fact that he relies chiefly on War Command (with Friendship likely to make the running) suggests a big run is expected and thus he remains the one to beat.
At the prices though, there’s no need to make too much of a case to side with Outstrip however.
The Exceed and Excel colt was victorious on his debut back in June, beating a couple of subsequent winners, including his then stable mate True Story.
He then got to within a neck of arguably one of the best two-year-olds around Toormore at Glorious Goodwood when just reeled in thanks to another Richard Hughes Goodwood master class. Toormore has subsequently gone on to taste Group 1 success in Ireland whilst Outstrip came back to win the Champagne Stakes (Group 2) at Doncaster last month.
On a line through Sudirman who beat War Command and then was firmly put in his place by Toormore you’d give Outstrip the edge, but War Command wasn’t at his best when he met his only defeat so that could be a dangerous literal reading of the form.
Outstrip’s connections skipped the Jean Luc Lagardere at Longchamp last weekend with an eye on better ground at Newmarket however and they could be rewarded with yet another big two-year-old success in what thus far has been a vintage season for them.
Friendship is by no means an also ran here, but War Command is without doubt the first string and he looks to be on pacemaking duties here for that one.
Best of the rest therefore could be Anjaal who Paul Hanagan teams up with. Richard Hannon’s July Stakes winner hasn’t been seen since July but is also a Group 2 winner and the better ground will certainly suit.
Cable Bay for Charlie Hills and Jamie Spencer is another with Group race form to his name already, but looks well held by Outstrip on their Champagne Stakes running, while outsider Stormardal looks up against it on his best to date.
The boys in blue have almost predictably put their troubles of the last twelve months behind them this season in no uncertain terms and with an exciting crop of two-year-olds the future looks bright.
Charlie Appleby can cap off a memorable first season as a trainer for Godolphin by plundering another two-year-old Group race with Outstrip, who more than rates as the value call against Ballydoyle’s talented War Command.
Elsewhere on a cracking card Ballydoyle can still land Group 1 honours in the Middle Park with Great White Eagle and in the minefield that is the Cesarewitch my two against the field are Pallasator and Recession Proof at a bigger price, who having got a run under his belt at York last month after a lengthy absence should strip much fitter and looks very well treated on the best of his hurdles form.
Dewhurst Stakes 2013 – Best Odds:
War Command 5/4
Outstrip 2/1
Anjaal 7/1
Friendship 14/1
Cable Bay 16/1
Stormardal 66/1
Recommendation:
1pt win Outstrip @ 2/1 (Boylesports)
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