GEWAN STUNS RIVALS TO GRAB DEWHURST HONOURS

Trainer Balding’s 2YO outsider beats off favourite Gstaad to pick up first Group I win

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NEWMARKET - The Andrew Balding-trained Gewan bounced back to his best to run out a determined winner of the £500,000 (S$865,000) Group 1 Dewhurst Stakes (1,400m) at Newmarket on Oct 11.

In a race that was billed as a three-way match between Distant Storm, Gstaad and Zavateri, Gewan was sent off at big odds of $221, despite his eye-catching victory in the Group 3 Acomb Stakes (1,400m) at York on Aug 20.

However, as the Night Of Thunder two-year-old was returning to better ground following his fourth-placed finish to Puerto Rico in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes (1,400m) at Doncaster on Sept 13, first-time partner James Doyle opted to make plenty of use of the striking grey.

The pair was always nicely positioned towards the fore, settling just behind the leader Pacific Avenue (Rossa Ryan) and Oxagon (Oisin Murphy).

As the duo ahead of him faded passing the two-furlong pole, Gewan struck the front.

Although the juvenile veered towards the nearside rail, Balding’s charge remained in command coming away from the dip.