Total Command

Saturday's G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. at Newmarket looks highly likely to decide the title of European champion 2-year-old, with Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) poised to assume the mantle for Aidan O'Brien's Ballydoyle stable, successful four times in this prestigious affair. Stepping up through the grades without giving the impression so far that he is digging into his reserves, the imposing bay faces some of Britain's premier juveniles this time. His performances when winning the Listed Chesham S. at Royal Ascot June 18, G3 Tyros S. at Leopardstown July 21 and The Curragh's G2 Futurity S. and G1 Vincent O'Brien National S. Aug. 21 and Sept. 11 were more impressive as he went on and if he continues in that vain this could be his tour de force moment. “He seems to be in good form since the last day at the Curragh,” O'Brien said. “He seems to handle all types of ground and we're happy with him.”
Churchill's unbeaten rivals South Seas (Ire) (Lope de Vega {Ire}) and Seven Heavens (GB) (Frankel {GB}) offer an intriguing element to what appears a strong renewal of the race, with the former already proven in pattern races. Qatar Racing's chestnut beat Salouen (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) in convincing fashion in the G3 Solario S. over this trip at Sandown Aug. 20 and that form was boosted when the runner-up finished in the same spot in Sunday's G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Chantilly. “The horse is really well. He's been working well and we're looking forward to seeing him run again,” trainer Andrew Balding said. “Obviously it's another step up in class, but he's answered every question we've asked of him so far. It's a very strong race on slightly different ground conditions, more than likely, that he will have to encounter. Hopefully, he'll handle those and run a big race.”
'TDN Rising Star' Seven Heavens beat the subsequent National S. third Lockheed (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}) over six furlongs at Ascot on debut July 8 before winning a soft two-runner conditions race at Goodwood Aug. 30. While he has a lot to find with his proven opponents, the manner of the latter performance suggests he has inherited a fair share of his sire's dynamism and it is interesting that John Gosden has opted to pitch him into the deep end. “Obviously it's a big step up for him. It will be only his third start, but he came out of his Goodwood race very well and has been going nicely,” Khalid Abdullah's racing manager Teddy Grimthorpe commented. “He deserves his chance. We're happy with him at the moment.”
Stamina is the question mark that hangs over 'TDN Rising Star' Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal), but his form when winning the G2 Gimcrack S. at York Aug. 20 and finishing runner-up in the G1 Middle Park S. here Sept. 24 is among the finest anywhere over six furlongs this year. Trainer Charlie Appleby said, “First and foremost, the horse came out of the [Middle Park] race very well. We were very pleased with what we saw when he did his last piece of work on the Limekilns. The trip is the obvious big question mark. If he doesn't stay on Saturday, we'll work back from the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.”