2026 Dewhurst Stakes Result and Replay - Darkness Falls edges out Desert Castle to earn Triple Crown quotes

Jon Vine

Editor

Last updated: Sat 10 Oct 2026 16:18

Jon Vine 49 minutes ago

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Full result of the 2026 Dewhurst Stakes
Darkness Falls won this Group One at Newmarket on Saturday
Watch a replay of the Dewhurst Stakes finish here on our website

Ryan Moore riding Darkness Falls (R, red/blue) win The Darley Dewhurst Stakes from William Buick and Desert Castle (blue) at Newmarket. (Getty)

Excitement rippled through the stands at Newmarket as two of the sport's most promising colts met for the first time in the Dewhurst Stakes.

Desert Castle jumped to the head of the betting for next year's 2000 Guineas after a runaway victory in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster. Aidan O'Brien unleashed Darkness Falls, who dropped below a mile for the first time after winning the nine-furlong Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown last month.

O'Brien was also represented by Coventry Stakes winner Great Barrier Reef, who had only been seen once since that Royal Ascot success. Billy Loughnane rode Charlie Appleby's second-string Jassas. The fifth and final runner was Andrew Balding's Gentle Hurricane, who had seven lengths to find with the market leader from their clash in the Champagne Stakes.

2026 Dewhurst Stakes Result

Position	Name	SP
1st	Darkness Falls	6/4
2nd	Desert Castle	10/11f
3rd	Great Barrier Reef	9/1

Having started the day as the 8/13 favourite, Desert Castle was weak in the betting in the hour before the Dewhurst. When the stalls eventually burst open, William Buick's mount was only a shade of odds-on, and Desert Castle travelled a little keenly in the early stages.

Knowing his mount stays further than today's distance, Ryan Moore allowed Darkness Falls to stride into an early lead. Billy Loughnane went forward with Jassas to keep the leader honest. Wayne Lordan took his time aboard Great Barrier Reef, with Gentle Hurricane sitting at the rear.

Ryan Moore angled Darkness Falls towards the stands' rail going into the dip. William Buick was keen to keep the leader in his sights and made an early move to push Desert Castle up to challenge.

Great Barrier Reef attempted to make some inroads but found his path into contention blocked by the two Godolphin runners. Jassas gave way as the field hit the rising ground, and the two protagonists moved on to fight out the finish.

Desert Castle pulled alongside Darkness Falls with a furlong to travel. The favourite tried his best but could never edge in front of his rival. Darkness Falls, on the other hand, kept up the revs in the closing stages and held Desert Castle at bay to claim his second Group One win of the autumn.

Prior to the Dewhurst, Aidan O'Brien said the team had come to Newmarket to see if Darkness Falls had the speed to run in the 2000 Guineas. Having passed that acid test, Darkness Falls was cut to 4/1 favouritism for the 2027 2000 Guineas by bet365. Some firms are even offering 14/1 on Darkness Falls to win the Triple Crown!

Desert Castle lost nothing in defeat, losing out by a very narrow margin. Appleby's colt drifted out to 6/1 to win next year's Guineas, and the idea of a rematch between these two fantastic colts will keep Flat racing fans warm throughout the long winter months.