Group winner Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) has joined the Oct. 10 G1 Darley Dewhurst S. field after a late supplementation. Bearing the Shadwell colours alongside Owen Burrows trainee and G2 Champagne S. bridesmaid Albasheer (Ire) (Shamardal), he is one of 18 in the field for the Newmarket Group 1. The colt broke his maiden at second asking at Goodwood and doubled up with a win at Newbury in the G2 Mill Reef S. on Sept. 19.
“He runs on Saturday and I've been very happy with him since Newbury,” said trainer Marcus Tregoning. “Obviously we don't know what the ground is going to be like yet, and we don't know how many of the Irish horses are coming over.
“Most Showcasings go on soft ground anyway and as he's in good form, we thought we had to go for it. It's been a while since I won the Dewhurst [with Sir Percy] in 2005, but we've had nothing good enough to run in it since. Hopefully this is a good horse, he's looked it so far. The fact Sheikh Hamdan had another horse already entered didn't come into the reckoning really.”
G1 National S. hero Thunder Moon (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is also stepping forward, one of three in the race for trainer Joseph O'Brien. His father Aidan also fields three, with G2 Vintage S. victor Battleground (War Front) set to take part, as is National S. second and third Wembley (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and St Mark's Basilica (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}). The latter was a late scratch from the G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere.
Others still in the field are: G3 Solario S. winner Etonian (Ire) (Olympic Glory {Ire}) and undefeated G2 Champagne S. scorer Chindit (Ire) (Wootton Bassett {GB})-both for Richard Hannon–and Jessica Harrington's Sept. 12 G2 KPMG Champions Juvenile S. winner Cadillac (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}). Her Majesty The Queen's G2 July S. winner Tactical (GB) (Toronado {Ire}) is also among the field at this stage for Andrew Balding, as is G2 Futurity S. winner Mac Swiney (Ire) (New Approach {GB}) for Jim Bolger.
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