Rio bid for Dewhurst gains momentum

The Darley Dewhurst Stakes is under “strong consideration” for impressive Longchamp winner Rio De La Plata.

The Godolphin colt landed the Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere in imperious fashion last weekend and many pundits thought that would be him signing off for the year.

But the juvenile is in such good form he could be set for a rematch with his National Stakes conqueror, New Approach.

“He’s always shown a huge amount of talent and when he ran his first race we thought he’d win, but he missed the break and six furlongs was a bit on the sharp side for him,” said Simon Crisford, Godolphin’s racing manager.

“Since then he has done nothing but improve physically and he takes his races very well.

“He’s in good form, he’s come back from France very well and we’ll definitely consider the Dewhurst – that is under strong consideration.

“However, the ground has got to be right for him. If it gets very soft next week we would give that a miss, but the weather forecast is pretty good so there is a good chance he might turn up.

“It would be a fantastic race, but it wouldn’t just be New Approach.

“Raven’s Pass looks a fantastic colt, as we saw at Sandown, McCartney won well at Doncaster and he might run there, and I believe Brian Meehan is very likely to run Fast Company.

“So if they all turn up it will be an unbelievable race.

“I don’t think there is any chance he will go for the Kentucky Derby (next year) and he would have a straightforward Guineas preparation and have his first run back in England in the Guineas,” Crisford told At The Races.