Shadow Of Light became only the second horse in 42 years to complete the Middle Park Stakes/Darley Dewhurst Stakes double with a courageous victory in the Gr1 highlight of day two of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket on Saturday, 12 October.
In a tactical renewal, the five runners split into two groups, with Shadow Of Light tracking Seagulls Eleven in second of a group of three down the centre of the course as Expanded led a free-travelling Ancient Truth towards the stands’ rail.
Shadow Of Light quickened under William Buick to lead his group over two furlongs out, although it soon became apparent that Ancient Truth and Expanded held a significant advantage.
Ancient Truth and Expanded battled for the lead, with Shadow Of Light drifting over towards the stands to join the duo with just under a furlong to race.
Little separated all three throughout the final half-furlong until Shadow Of Light found more close home to deny Expanded by a neck. Ancient Truth stuck to his task for James Doyle in third, a further neck in arrears.
Nine of the previous 10 winners of the Darley Dewhurst Stakes have been crowned European Champion Two-Year-Old, including current Darley stallions Too Darn Hot, Pinatubo and Native Trail.
Charlie Appleby, trainer of both Shadow Of Light and Ancient Truth, said: “Full credit to all the team, because you need to have full confidence in the people around the horse. Paul Eddery and all the lads associated with Shadow Of Light have done a fantastic job. We were happy to supplement on Monday but, had the horse not been firing on all cylinders come declaration stage, we wouldn’t have run. All the right signs were there, and everyone was giving us confidence that he was doing everything he needed to coming into a race like this. He has gone and proven it.
“When you have a five-runner race and they split, the reason you have these jockeys is that they have to make the quick decisions. James stuck to following Ryan [Moore on Expanded] and that looked a good decision. Ancient Truth ran a bit fresh and free early and it probably paid in the last 100 yards. He has run a very creditable race and I feel he will do very well from two to three.
“I thought William was in a nice position and they looked to be going a nice, even pace. My concern was from the three to the two, when I thought Shadow Of Light was coming under the pump a bit earlier than I would have liked. Once they hit the rising ground, I could see that he was staying at it, but I knew the stands’ side had the edge.
“William said that he felt Shadow Of Light was picking up all the time but, once he got company, he found again. On that evidence, he is a horse who we will train towards the 2,000 Guineas and, if he doesn’t stay a mile in May, we know that we can drop him back in trip for a Commonwealth Cup. I see no reason not to head to the 2,000 Guineas with Ancient Truth either as he was coming off a break and ran a bit too free for the first furlong.
“For His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and team Godolphin, this is the Darley Future Champions Festival and we are all looking for the champions of next year over these 48 hours. These are the best indicators for who is going to be a Guineas winner – the Dewhurst and the Fillies’ Mile. To win both races, it puts us on the front foot hopefully for the spring.”
William Buick added: “Shadow Of Light had to win two races today. We had a good tail to follow from the get-go and then the field separated. I could see that the stands’ side were in front and, to be honest, I was just amazed how competitively he could race by himself. When he joined the others, he found another gear. It was a fantastic performance.
“Credit to His Highness Sheikh Mohammed and Charlie for letting him take his chance two weeks after his impressive Middle Park Stakes win. Today, he showed a lot of courage and a lot of class. It was an amazing performance because it was made very difficult for him.”
