Seeking Est-Eem

Whether Newmarket’s Future Champions Day proves worthy of its title will be decided over the course of time, but today’s renewal of its main centerpiece event, the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S., does not appear to carry the weight of some of its predecessors on paper. If there is one who may be capable of stamping some class on proceedings it is Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s Estidhkaar (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who at least has shown he can handle the conditions after his impressive display when annexing the G2 Superlative S. over this trip on the July Course July 12. Beating the subsequent G3 Solario S. scorer Aktabantay (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) by 4 1/2 lengths on that occasion, Estidhkaar had the re-opposing Belardo (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) back in fourth when defying a penalty in the G2 Champagne S. also over seven furlongs at Doncaster Sept. 13. “We are hopeful that most of our runners will go in the ground and the way Estidhkaar coped with the soft at Doncaster when winning the Champagne Stakes gives us plenty of encouragement,” conditioner Richard Hannon commented. “He has come on again since Town Moor, worked smashing last weekend and this has always been his major autumn target.” Godolphin aim at the prize with the Sept. 25 G3 Somerville Tattersall S. winner Maftool (Hard Spun), who represents the Saeed bin Suroor stable. “Maftool is doing really well and I was very pleased with his final piece of work coming into this race,” his trainer said. “He looks very well at the moment and I am looking forward to seeing how he gets on in a big race like this.” One who could surprise is Olive Shaw’s June 17 G2 Coventry S. fifth and July 26 Listed Winkfield S. winner Kodi Bear (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}), who had the subsequent G2 Gimcrack S. scorer Muhaarar (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) back in third in the latter contest over this trip at Ascot. “I’m really happy with his preparation, he had a nice break after Ascot and everything has been going well,” trainer Clive Cox told PA Sport. “I don’t think I need to be worried about the ground, it was on the easy side when he won at Ascot and he seemed to handle that. It’s a step up in class, no doubt, but I’m pleased with him and he’s going there in good form.” As always, it is impossible to ignore a Ballydoyle challenger and despite his modest credentials entering this edition, Smuggler’s Cove (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) did look ready for bigger tests when winning the Listed Star Appeal S. by seven lengths over this distance on Dundalk’s Polytrack a week ago.