By Sean Cronin
The form of last month's G2 Champagne S. received a timely boost when Silver Knott (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) snagged the G3 Emirates Autumn S. earlier on the card and that former contest's winner, Juddmonte's 550,000gns Tattersalls December foal Chaldean (GB) (Frankel {GB}–Suelita {GB}, by Dutch Art {GB}), continued his impressive winning spree by making virtually all in Saturday's G1 Darley Dewhurst S. at Newmarket, providing trainer Andrew Balding with a first triumph in the seven-furlong Autumn highlight. The May-foaled chestnut had earlier followed up a June 30 debut fifth at Newbury with a July 15 breakthrough back there and registered a first black-type victory in August's G3 Acomb S. at York in his penultimate outing. He recovered from a scrappy departure to lead after the initial strides. Holding sway thereafter, the 5-2 joint-favourite came under pressure when threatened by 'TDN Rising Star' Nostrum (GB) (Kingman {GB}) approaching the quarter-mile marker and, having subdued that rival on the climb, held enough in reserve to withstand the late rattle of G2 Richmond S. victor Royal Scotsman (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) by a head. Nostrum was not unduly punished in the closing stages and finished 2 1/4 lengths back in third, himself five lengths clear of fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Aesop's Fables (Ire) (No Nay Never) in fourth.
“It is the first season I've had runners for Juddmonte and he was the first one in,” the winning trainer explained. “It is a huge privilege to train for them particularly when you get sent horses like him. With the stallions they have access to it is a dream really. We thought he was very good early spring and into the summer, but he got beaten first time out. Since then he has gone on and on. He has actually got less smart at home and has got smarter on the racecourse and that is how you want it really. He is just a dream horse and an absolute star. You wouldn't have been surprised if anyone of four or five of them had won, but the only sadness is to beat Jim and Fitri Hay as they are very good supporters of mine. That is the only slight negative on it as I hate denying them a good win, but apart from that I'm thrilled.”
Reflecting on the winner's performance, Balding added, “I was fairly confident, but less confident with a furlong to go. He had been out in front a long time and Frankie felt he kicked a little earlier than ideal, but it was probably a race-winning move. He is versatile and he didn't have to make it, but it didn't look like there was any obvious pace here. What we didn't want was it to turn into a sprint and for us to be out of our ground. He will be fine and the bigger the field the better off he will be [in the G1 2000 Guineas]. He is all speed on his dam side, being out of a Dutch Art mare, and I'd be surprised if he got further than a mile. I don't know if we run him in a trial first, we will see how he is training in the spring and make a decision from there. I would be comfortable going straight there, but I can't be making that decision at the moment.”
Frankie Dettori, claiming his third Dewhurst after partnering Too Darn Hot in 2018 and St Mark's Basilica in 2020, added, “He fluffed the start, but I was able to get him up there. I thought we had it in the bag when he shot clear, but I think he kind of lost concentration a bit as he was all on his own. Jim [Crowley aboard Royal Scotsman] came late and fast and that caught him by surprise. Luckily for us, the line was there. I was nothing but impressed when I rode him at Doncaster and the first thing I said to Andrew after was to go for the Dewhurst and he obliged. He's a proper Guineas horse for next year and we can dream now.”
Olly Cole, joint-trainer of the runner-up, said, “He broke the track record when he won at Goodwood [in the G2 Richmond]. People have crabbed the race, but you can't crab the race when you break the track record. He might have been unbalanced coming down the hill and it took him a bit of time to get going. He is seriously very good and the [2000] Guineas will be right up his street. To finish like he did today was good. I've been going around the sales telling everyone he was going to win, as I thought he would and he nearly did, and the dream is still alive.”
Chaldean, who becomes the 26th Group 1 winner for his sire (by Galileo {Ire}), is one of five black-type performers produced by a multiple-winning half to G3 Cornwallis S. second Outer Space (GB) (Acclamation {GB}) and to the dam of G2 Lowther S. victrix Living In The Past (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {Ire}). The May-foaled chestnut is kin to G2 Mill Reef S. victor Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), Listed Committed S. winner The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), the dual stakes-placed Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) and Listed Prix Herod third Gloves Lynch (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}). His dam Suelita (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) is a granddaughter of GIII Matchmaker S. victrix Horatia (Ire) (Machiavellian), herself the dam of G3 Pinnacle S. victrix and GI E. P. Taylor S. third Moment In Time (Ire) (Tiger Hill {Ire}). Horatia is kin to dual G2 Lonsdale Cup winner Opinion Poll (Ire) (Halling). Hailing from the family of G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire Markofdistinction (GB) (Known Fact), Chaldean is also full to weanling filly.
Saturday, Newmarket, Britain
DARLEY DEWHURST S.-G1, £528,750, Newmarket, 10-8, 2yo, 7fT, 1:22.54, gd.
1–CHALDEAN (GB), 129, c, 2, by Frankel (GB)
1st Dam: Suelita (GB), by Dutch Art (GB)
2nd Dam: Venoge (Ire), by Green Desert
3rd Dam: Horatia (Ire), by Machiavellian
1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (550,000gns Wlg '20 TATFOA). O-Juddmonte; B-Whitsbury Manor Stud (GB); T-Andrew Balding; J-Lanfranco Dettori. £299,854. Lifetime Record: 5-4-0-0, $534,183. *1/2 to Alkumait (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), GSW-Eng; The Broghie Man (GB) (Cityscape {GB}), SW-Ire & SP-Fr, $100,140; Get Ahead (GB) (Showcasing {GB}), MSP-Eng; and Gloves Lynch (GB) (Mukhadram {GB}), SP-Fr. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree, or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Royal Scotsman (GB), 129, c, 2, Gleneagles (Ire)–Enrol (GB), by Pivotal (GB). 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (125,000gns Ylg '21 TATOCT). O-Mrs Fitri Hay; B-Rabbah Bloodstock Ltd (IRE); T-Paul & Oliver Cole. £113,681.
3–Nostrum (GB), 129, c, 2, Kingman (GB)–Mirror Lake (GB), by Dubai Destination. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. O-Juddmonte; B-Juddmonte Farms (East) Ltd (GB); T-Sir Michael Stoute. £56,894.
Margins: HD, 2 1/4, 5. Odds: 2.50, 12.00, 2.50.
Also Ran: Aesop's Fables (Ire), Marbaan (GB), Naval Power (GB), Isaac Shelby (GB).
Like father like son!
Chaldean digs deep to follow in the footsteps of his sire Frankel in winning the Group 1 @DarleyStallions Dewhurst Stakes @NewmarketRace under a power-packed @FrankieDettori pic.twitter.com/pchQA5ZL5V
— Racing TV (@RacingTV) October 8, 2022
Not a subscriber? Click here to sign up for the daily PDF or alerts.
