Mike Vince reflects on recent editions of the Dewhurst Stakes as Richard Hannon bids to break his duck in the Group One this Saturday.
It was back in 1987 that we lost the Dewhurst Stakes to a hurricane, on a day more remembered for one Fish than a dozen horses, but in recent years this has become the flagship of the trinity of two-year-old Group 1s run in the autumn, rather more for what it tells us about the likely Champion Juvenile than about the following year's Classics.
In fact only twice since Frankel’s imperial romp in 2010 has the Dewhurst winner gone on to Classic glory - the most recent Churchill, who won the 2000 Guineas the May after his 2016 victory. The history books will tell you that the race was first run in 1875 and the first four winners all went on to Classic glory.
Just look at the last three winners - 12 months ago it was Pinatubo chased home by a quartet of Ballydoyle inmates to secure the Champion Juvenile crown.
In 2018 it was Gosden, Dettori and Too Darn Hot in the winners' enclosure and back in 2017 Aidan O’Brien’s fourth win in five years secured by US Navy Flag, who became the first horse in 35 years to land the Middle Park and Dewhurst double.
The Dewhurst alone can make a horse's reputation - no more so than 2005 when all eyes were on Horatio Nelson, who went to post odds-on. But he had no answer to the finishing kick of Sir Percy who got up late to win by a neck, en route to glory at Epsom the following June.
But two things stand out as we put the past into context with the present and look forward to Saturday’s renewal.
First is the amazing record of Jim Bolger and his son-in-law jockey Kevin Manning. Between 2006 when Teofilo took the prize until Dawn Approach led them home in 2012, the partnership recorded an extraordinary five winners in seven years - and they look set to be back for more this weekend.
And there is one ghost to exorcise as well.
Despite a richly-deserved reputation for their handling of two-year-olds, neither Richard Hannon, nor his father before him, have this race on their CV.
No pressure then on Chindit and Etonian!
