Middle Park Stakes winner Shadow Of Light has been supplemented for the Darley Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket this Saturday. Following his dominant four-length victory over Whistlejacket, trainer Charlie Appleby initially suggested the colt would be rested for the remainder of the season, with a potential target of the 2025 Commonwealth Cup.
However, connections have decided to pay the £35,000 fee to enter the Dewhurst, giving Shadow Of Light the opportunity to step up to seven furlongs in one of the season's most prestigious races for juvenile colts.
Appleby and Godolphin will also field the unbeaten Ancient Truth, who has not raced since his victory in the Superlative Stakes in July. Commenting on the decision to run Shadow Of Light, Appleby posted on Twitter: "The current plan is for him to join Ancient Truth on Saturday. We’re very pleased with his progress and believe he has the potential to handle the step up to seven furlongs."
The main threat to Appleby’s duo could come from The Lion In Winter, one of five entries from Aidan O’Brien and the Coolmore team. Currently, at the top of ante-post markets for both the 2000 Guineas and Derby, The Lion In Winter impressed in the Acomb Stakes at York, a performance further validated by runner-up Wimbledon Hawkeye winning the Royal Lodge.
O’Brien’s other Dewhurst contenders include Aftermath, Expanded, Rock Of Cashel, and Camille Pissarro, although Camille Pissarro would be making a quick return after his victory in the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at ParisLongchamp on Sunday.
The only non-Godolphin or Ballydoyle-owned colt still in contention is Hugo Palmer’s Seagulls Eleven, who finished second to Ancient Truth in the Superlative Stakes.