A duo of undefeated records go on the line on Saturday at Newmarket's Future Champions Day. Dawn Approach and Reckless Abandon have both defeated everything in their paths and look to end their season on notable highs with Group 1 victories.
A winner of the very first two year old race of the season, Dawn Approach has flourished with each start on both sides of the Irish Sea. On Saturday, the curtains come down on the first year of an exciting career. With five victories out of five starts forming the perfect record thus far, Dawn Approach bids for win number six in a small-field Dewhurst Stakes that looks tragically under subscribed for a year of such substantial quality.
Following the path that Frankel followed to this race in 2010, John Gosden sends the undefeated Juddmonte Farms owned, Ashdan, to challenge the unbeaten son of New Approach and, realistically, looks the only viable contender to his crown. Unbeaten in two races, Ashdan is an exciting proposition for Juddmonte Farms as their star four year old, Frankel, edges ever closer towards his retirement. However, make no mistake, the comparisons with Frankel thus far stop at the race planning and Ashdan has much to prove before being heralded as the second coming.
George Vancouver, The Ferryman, Funk Soul Brother and Dawn Approach's stable mate, Leitir Mor, complete the Dewhurst field.
For Reckless Abandon, the task is tougher. Reunited with Gerald Mosse for the third successive race, Reckless Abandon has plyed his trade mainly in France for Clive Cox. Saturday sees the first sighting of this two year old son of Exchange Rate on British shores since his victory in the Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Unbeaten in four starts, Reckless Abandon reopposes with Marco Botti's Moohaajim, a horse that was scintillating in victory last time out in the Mill Reef at Newbury and one that he defeated in the Group 1 Prix Morny last time. Flying late in the Prix Morny, many believe Reckless Abandon may just set things up for the finishing effort of Moohaajim this time, however, the others note that the ground is substantially against the chances of Marco Botti's star.
Unlike the Dewhurst Stakes, the Middle Park Stakes features a plethora of speedy talent including Christoforo Colombo, Master of War and Blaine. If Reckess Abandon were to continue his winning streak, he would be beating the very best sprint two year olds on offer and earmark himself as, potentially, the next Dream Ahead for the Classic season.