O’Brien Power-less as Ektihaam walks Frankel’s Dewhurst path
Published:Aidan O’Brien may be going in mob-handed in an attempt to win the Dewhurst Stakes, but it may prove that Ektihaam is the horse to beat in the Newmarket odds to triumph in the Group One showdown.
The two-year old contest has thrown up a number of winners over the years who have gone on to prosper in horse racing, including all-time legends Nijinsky and Mill Reef, Derby winners The Minstrel, Sir Percy and New Approach and most recently the mighty Frankel.
O’Brien currently has six of the 16 horses entered into the Dewhurst, with Power and Daddy Long Legs potentially looking the best of his runners.
Power is particularly well thought of after his victory in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot and is among the market leaders for next year’s 2,000 Guineas.
However, it is Ektihaam that is currently favourite in the Newmarket betting to win the Dewhurst at 5/2 as he attempts to tread a similar path to that of Frankel 12 months ago.
Frankel won the Frank Whittle Partnership Conditions Stakes en route to Newmarket last season and this was the same Doncaster race that Ektihaam comfortably landed on his latest start.
Trainer Roger Varian has stated that the horse has looked smart at home and the fact that he missed the Royal Lodge at Newmarket last month to ensure he is right for the Dewhurst is a fact worth noting.
Ektihaam also fits the criteria common in the most recent Dewhurst winners in that he has previously won over 7f, he has run at least twice, he won on his latest start and is sired by Invincible Spirit, who not only won as a two-year-old, but also triumphed in a Group One during his career.
Power is the second favourite to win the Dewhurst at 3/1 as trainer O’Brien looks to win the race for a third time and make an impact after failing to have a single runner in the two Group One races for two year olds at Longchamp over the weekend.
