2024 Dewhurst Stakes News - Quotes from connections
Ahead of the 2024 Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket, trainers and jockeys share insights on their horses' form and chances. Aidan O'Brien and Ryan Moore are optimistic about The Lion In Winter due to its impressive wins. Charlie Appleby discusses expectations for his horses, Shadow Of Light and Ancient Truth, highlighting their readiness. Hugo Palmer reflects on Seagulls Eleven's toughness and potential. Each connection is upbeat about their horses' chances in this critical Group One race, underscoring the competitiveness of the event.
- Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 Dewhurst Stakes
- This Group One takes place at Newmarket on Saturday 12th October
- Read quotes from Charlie Appleby, Ryan Moore, Aidan O'Brien and more
- Aidan O'Brien (The Lion In Winter)
- Ryan Moore (The Lion In Winter)
- Charlie Appleby (Shadow Of Light and Ancient Truth)
- Hugo Palmer (Seagulls Eleven)
Key Quotes
Quotes from connections ahead of the 2024 Dewhurst Stakes, which takes place at Newmarket on Saturday.
Read what the connections of this year's contenders have had to say, before their top juvenile fillies enter this important Group One.
2024 Dewhurst Stakes News - Quotes From Connections
Aidan O'Brien (The Lion In Winter)
Everything has been good with him over the last week or so and everyone seems happy. He's a classy horse. We were delighted with him the first day at the Curragh and you'd have to be delighted with the way he won the second day at York. He looks a very straightforward type.
Ryan Moore (The Lion In Winter)
He is a lovely uncomplicated clot who was impressive on debut at the Curragh - the third that day, Ides Of March, has done plenty for the form of that race - and he took another step forward when beating subsequent Royal Lodge winner, Wimbledon Hawkeye, in the Acomb at York.
Godolphin look to have a strong hand here with the Middle Park winner, Shadow Of Light, stepping up to 7f for the first time and Ancient Truth is a nice colt who was impressive in the Superlative on the July course.
It's a competitive race but my colt sets a decent standard.
Charlie Appleby (Shadow Of Light and Ancient Truth)
Shadow Of Light has come out of the Middle Park Stakes in great order. We know the Middle Park-Dewhurst double has only been achieved a few times before, but we are confident that he will see out the seven furlongs. He ticks a lot of boxes, which is why William (Buick) chose to ride him.
We purposely missed the National Stakes with Ancient Truth to instead head here in the best condition. He looks fantastic – he’s strengthened with the break and has done everything right in the lead-up.
We have two exciting colts who will hopefully be very competitive against The Lion In Winter.
Hugo Palmer (Seagulls Eleven)
He showed lots of guts and I’m absolutely certain he would have been second if he hadn’t been bashed into, I really am.
He was hanging in there hard and he got absolutely taken off his feet with two big bumps from a wayward horse that didn’t really want to go forwards.
So, that’s a little bit frustrating, as I thought he ran a really tough race and he showed plenty of gate speed, which if we went to the Breeders’ Cup would be a big advantage.
We’re very pleased with him and he’s very versatile as far as the ground is concerned.
He’s rated the same as his dad was as a two-year-old and his dad finished his season by finishing third in a Group One, he was third in the Lagardere.
He’s a bigger horse than his father; it doesn’t always follow that a big horse will improve a great deal, but you always think there is more scope for improvement in a bigger horse than a small horse.
He’s a big horse and we’d be very hopeful of his ability to improve over the winter and the Guineas would be the obvious starting point next season, I would think.
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