3 minute read

Charlie Appleby landed a third Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes when Shadow Of Light stormed home to get the better of Expanded by a neck.

A stunning winner of the six-furlong Middle Park Stakes on the Rowley Mile just two weeks ago, connections surprisingly opted to supplement the speedy Night Of Thunder colt on Monday, despite trainer Charlie Appleby muting that they expected to keep him to sprinting trips next season. 

In spite of the step up to seven furlongs and the quick turnaround, Shadow Of Light was sent off the even-money favourite to become just the third horse to complete the Middle Park and the Dewhurst double, with Aidan O'Brien's US Navy Flag the last horse to do so in 2017. 

Seagulls Eleven led Shadow Of Light and Rock Of Cashel towards the far side, with Expanding, who was ridden by Ryan Moore after the late withdrawal of ante-post favourite The Lion In Winter, leading Ancient Truth.

Appleby's so-called second-string Ancient Truth was well-backed to keep his unbeaten record intact and after tracking the once-raced Expanding in the smaller near-side group, he looked to have every chance.

Expanding and Ancient Truth looked set to battle it out entering the dip but as the two groups edged closer together, the complexion of the contest quickly changed. Just as he did on this very track a fortnight ago, Shadow Of Light quickened up in taking style once meeting the rising ground and although the final furlong was unknown territory, he proved stamina was no problem as he stayed on strongly to get the better of Expanded by a neck. Ancient Truth, who raced keenly early, lost little in defeat as he finished a further neck behind to claim the bronze medal. 

"He's some horse to do what he has done the last few weeks and full credit to the team. He's another homebred who is a half-brother to Earthlight," said Appleby. 

"Going forward into the spring, we can look at both divisions, I suppose. What Will was most encouraged by was the way he raced – and when he hit the rising ground, he just kept finding and found again when they came close to one another."

While the Commonwealth Cup had been on the agenda next season following his Middle Park success, a path towards the 2000 Guineas now looks to be on the cards with Paddy Power cutting Shadow Of Light to 12/1 (from 16s) for the Newmarket Classic. 

Appleby said: "Will said he can't tell me not to look towards a Guineas in the spring. If we go there and don't stay the mile on the day, he wouldn't be the first horse to drop back into the Commonwealth Cup. We've seen it done before and I imagine that would be our programme in the spring now."

He added: "I was delighted with Ancient Truth's run; he was a bit fresh off his lay-off there and James (Doyle) was just having to manage him a little bit for the first two furlongs and got him into a rhythm.

"I actually thought he was going to be the one who was going to hit the rising ground and see it out the best because at that stage William was under the pump a little bit.

"But as William said, 'he kept finding for me', and when the others came closer, he found again."

Buick added: "He's a good Middle Park and Dewhurst winner now and he's obviously an exceptional horse. The race didn't really play to him at all. In a five-runner field, you just think we will race up the middle and everyone will have their chance.

"I needed cover, and he was a six-furlong winner stepping up to seven in soft ground, so I had to conserve where I could.

"I knew if I showed him daylight too early, he would probably burn out, so I had to follow Oisin (Murphy on Seagulls Eleven) wherever he went, and Ryan (Moore on Expanded) and James went on the stands' rail, and we were far-to-middle.

"Oisin was cooked approaching the three and I had to make my way home from there and luckily, I've managed to make touch with Ryan and James, and I just managed to get over a little bit to them – once I did, my fellow got really competitive.

"He hit the rising ground and was well on top in the end. He is really tough and responded to everything I asked him – and what really pleased me the most is, for such a quick Middle Park winner, how he showed that stamina over seven furlongs on this soft ground here.

"I can't remember many horses I have ridden, especially two-year-olds, who would be able to do that.

"He was running on his own doing fine but once he got a sniff of the opposition, he found another gear. It was a big performance and through that, you can definitely mark it up.

"You have to give credit to Charlie and the team for having a crack – he was a four-length Middle Park winner and now two weeks later he's a Dewhurst winner."