Coolmore, Godolphin Juveniles Face Off in Dewhurst

Godolphin and Coolmore have been implacable rivals all week across town at Tattersalls, their pursuit of the prime talent that could be next season's Dewhurst (G1) or Fillies' Mile (G1) stakes contender dominating the sales ring at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. Sheikh Mohammed's operation spent almost 27 million guineas at Europe's elite yearling sale, but it is a pair of homebreds who fly the flag in the Oct. 10 Dewhurst at Newmarket Racecourse, led by the unbeaten Desert Castle (GB). Like two of Charlie Appleby's three previous Dewhurst winners Pinatubo (IRE) and Native Trail (GB), Desert Castle carries an unbeaten record and a big reputation into this traditional championship race. "Desert Castle was more professional at Doncaster compared to his debut and I think he has come forward again since," Appleby said. "We are taking on a horse who is already a group 1 winner in Darkness Falls, but we're pleased with our horse and he's developed. It looks a good race and we're looking forward to it." Strangely, Appleby is yet to win the Dewhurst with a son of Godolphin's flagship stallion Dubawi (IRE)—the source of so much of the trainer's group 1 success—and while Jassas (GB) has a chance to rectify that particular omission, he looks to be marked for a supporting role. "Jassas broke his maiden at Doncaster and then disappointed at Deauville, which we put down to the traveling," Appleby said. "He put up a nice effort under a penalty at Haydock and should help keep things straightforward." Coolmore was hardly shrinking violets in the sales ring last week and Aidan O'Brien has two genuine threats to Desert Castle. Darkness Falls (IRE) already has a group 1 to his name after running away from his field in the Golden Fleece Stakes (G1) over 1 1/8 miles, while Coventry Stakes (G2) winner Great Barrier Reef (IRE) might still be unbeaten but for missing out by the bob of a neck to Push The Boat Out (IRE) when attempting to concede 5 pounds in the Round Tower Stakes (G3). Ryan Moore is aboard Darkness Falls and while this will present a very different test to Leopardstown Racecourse, he is out of a No Nay Never mare and is entitled to progress further, given he had broken his maiden only a fortnight before. "Obviously, he is coming back 2 furlongs, which is unusual," O'Brien said. "He's a classy horse, and we always thought that, so we just felt if we were going to start in the Guineas next year with him, it would be a good experience for him and we would get a feel for him over a mile in Newmarket." Great Barrier Reef had been touted as the stable No. 1 ahead of the Middle Park Stakes (G1), but was caught up in the brief slump in stable health, while he has shown more raw speed than Darkness Falls. O'Brien said: "He didn't have a good scope ahead of the Middle Park, so we had to wait. He needed to run again and there is a chance that he could go to America for the Juvenile (Turf) over a mile and, obviously, that's why we are going up to 7. "We'll see where he will fit in. He is not a slow horse, but we are trying to see could he go for the Juvenile, so this is a step up to seven for him. He hasn't had a clear run, but he is well. A lot of ours were not right when he was beaten in the Round Tower Stakes, and we didn't get to the bottom of it until afterwards." The Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G1T) will be run Oct. 30 over a mile at Keeneland. Last year, O'Brien saddled Gstaad (GB) to victory in the Juvenile Turf off a runner-up finish in the Dewhurst. The five-horse field is completed by Mrs. A. Althani's Gentle Hurricane (IRE), who finished fourth behind Desert Castle in the Champagne last out for trainer Andrew Balding.