Darkness Falls beats Desert Castle to win Dewhurst at Newmarket

Darkness Falls held off Desert Castle by a narrow margin to win the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on 10 October.

Ridden by Ryan Moore for trainer Aidan O'Brien, Darkness Falls beat the previously unbeaten favourite in a five-runner field. Desert Castle, ridden by William Buick, pushed him all the way. The pair led the field home. BBC Sport

It was tight. The favourite lost his perfect record. The winner had to dig in.

Darkness Falls came into the race after winning the Golden Fleece Stakes at Leopardstown. That was over a longer trip. For the Dewhurst he dropped back to seven furlongs, about 1,400 metres, from nine furlongs.

The Dewhurst is a Group 1, the highest level of Flat racing. It is run for two-year-old colts over the straight seven furlongs on Newmarket's Rowley Mile. Its official title is the Darley Dewhurst Stakes. Racing Post

O'Brien said the colt was brought to Newmarket to gain experience with a view to the Guineas. The 2,000 Guineas, run over a mile at Newmarket each spring, is the first Classic of the season for three-year-old colts. Moore had described Darkness Falls as "very exciting" before the race.

Desert Castle started as favourite after an unbeaten run. Hollie Doyle had backed him to keep his winning sequence going. Darkness Falls, by contrast, arrived as the Derby favourite, the market leader for next year's Epsom Classic over a mile and a half.

The other three runners were Gentle Hurricane, ridden by James Doyle, Great Barrier Reef and Jassas. All five were two-year-old colts. Geldings, horses that have been castrated, are not allowed to run in the race.

What makes this stand out is the distance question. Darkness Falls had already won over nine furlongs. To drop back and still have enough speed for seven showed a different side to him.

For fans, this means the Classic picture has two names at the top. One unbeaten record is gone. Two spring campaigns are now taking shape.