GODOLPHIN had to buy into last year's winner of the Dubai Dewhurst Stakes but the team have found a juvenile from their own production line with a leading chance of defending today's renewal of the key Group One race at Newmarket.
Jim Bolger's Dawn Approach carried the blue silks to success before returning to the Rowley Mile this spring to take the 2000 Guineas and there are hopes the Darley-bred Outstrip can follow in his example.
Only six runners have been declared and it looks like being another battle between Godolphin and Coolmore, who send out Outstrip's market rival War Command. Exceed And Excel colt Outstrip started off by winning a maiden on the July Course and headed straight for Glorious Goodwood, where his neck second to Toormore looks a lot better after his conqueror's authoritative victory in the National Stakes.
Outstrip, trained by Charlie Appleby, claimed his own Group honours when drawing clear in the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster.
Simon Crisford, the Godolphin racing manager, who revealed Be Ready will miss the race, said: "We gave Sunday's Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere at Longchamp a miss with Outstrip hoping for better ground in the Dewhurst.
"That is a decision that might backfire, we will have to wait and see, but his Champagne Stakes victory was a top-notch effort and we are very pleased with him."
War Command, though, is 5lb superior on official ratings and showed such a memorable turn of foot when coming six lengths clear in the Coventry Stakes at Royal Ascot.
Trainer Aidan O'Brien said: "He is in good form and we are looking forward to the Dewhurst."
Richard Hannon is represented by Anjaal, who won a maiden at Beverley but took a marked step up in class in his stride when staying on to good effect in the July Stakes.
Sir Mark Prescott, trainer of five beaten Cesarewitch favourites, pins his hopes on Pallasator in this year's race. The horse won three times last season but did not run this term until last month's Old Borough Cup at Haydock, when he was third.
"We wanted to start him off in the Northumberland Plate but we had a hold-up and we were eight weeks behind with him," Prescott said. "Pallasator has a very, very good chance if he stays.
Nicky Henderson, twice a Cesarewitch winner with Landing Light and Caracciola is back with another hurdler, Lieutenant Miller, and French recruit Earth Amber.
Lieutenant Miller's owner Henry Ponsonby also has the Ebor winner and top weight Tiger Cliff running in his silks.
"I'm happy with him coming into the race and ant rain will be appreciated," said trainer Lady Cecil, who will attempt to replicate her late husband Sir Henry Cecil's only Cesarewitch triumph, with Orosio in 1971.
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