Promising juvenile Rivet (Ire) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}) will bid to extend the fine run of form of the William Haggas team when he lines up in the G1 Dubai Dewhurst S. at Newmarket on Saturday. Impressive when wining the valuable Convivial Maiden at York in August, the colt, owned in partnership by Lester Piggott, John Magnier, Michael Tabor and his South African breeder Des Scott, handled the step up in class when denying Godolphin's Thunder Snow (Ire) (Helmet {Aus}) by a head in the G2 At The Races Champagne S. at Doncaster Sept. 10. Haggas is well aware of the task at hand at Newmarket and feels his charge will need to raise his game further in order to be involved at the business end.
“I thought the win last time was laboured, but I think the ground was a bit loose for him and I also think the second was quite useful. However, he's got a bit to find to win a Dewhurst on that run,” said Haggas.
With conditions riding on the quick side for the time of year Haggas is hoping for more of the same until the weekend, “He's a good mover and dry ground will suit him well. I've had some out of this mare [Starship {Ire} (Galileo {Ire})] before, but this is the most precocious by some way.”
With Aidan O'Brien carrying all before him in Europe this season, Rivet may have to contend with Ballydoyle's Group 1-winning Juvenile Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the Dewhurst. Haggas has a line of form with Churchill through another of his smart juveniles Lockheed (GB) (Exceed And Excel {Aus}).
He added, “We ran into Churchill in the National S. with Lockheed [finished third], he's very impressive. All his form is on slower ground than it will be on Saturday, but I'm not saying he won't go on faster ground, as I'm sure he will go anything. If it is soft it will be against us and probably favour him.”
A total of 14 2-year-old's remain in the Dewhurst, including Qatar Racing's unbeaten South Seas (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}), Khalid Abdullah's Seven Heavens (GB) (Frankel {GB}) and Godolphin's G1 Juddmonte Middle Park S. runner up Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal).
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