Dewhurst hope bids to Seas the day

South Seas and Now Or Never are top-grade runners for Qatar Racing today.

The Andrew Balding-trained South Seas (pictured right) carries an unbeaten record into the £500,000 Gr.1 Dubai Dewhurst Stakes (15.30), one of Europe's top races for juvenile colts, and the connoisseur's choice on day two of the Dubai Future Champions Festival at Newmarket.

A select field of seven line up, headed by Churchill from the hard-to-beat Aidan O'Brien stable, and a winner of his four most recent races they include a success in the Gr.1 Goffs Vincent O'Brien National Stakes.

However, South Seas and the Frankel colt Seven Heavens have yet to be headed, and offer a wealth of potential. South Seas, the mount today of Oisin Murphy, won the Gr.3 Solario Stakes last time out, and the runner-up, Salouen, has since finished second in the Gr.1 Jean-Luc Lagardere. Murphy has been full of praise for the colt after recent pieces of work, and trainer Andrew Balding is quoted in today's Racing Post saying: ‚"We think a fair amount of him. He did it well at Sandown and his work leading into this race has been good.‚"

Now Or Never has crossed the Atlantic to tackle the Gr.1 First Lady Stakes (15.35 local time, 21.35 in UK) at Keeneland. Trainer Michael O'Callaghan says she soon recovered from the flight and has been happy in her work on the track.

Local jockey Luis Saez rides Now Or Never, who was placed in the Gr.1 Irish 1000 Guineas in the spring, and has since finished fourth in the Gr.1 Coronation Stakes and Gr.1 Matron Stakes. Her rivals today include Tepin, the brilliant five-year-old mare who is bidding for her ninth straight success.

Also running for Qatar Racing today is Suzi's Connoisseur, who lines up in a six-furlongs handicap (15.45) at York. Trainer Stuart Williams, who has booked Freddy Tylicki for the ride, says: ‚"Suzi's has come out of the Ascot race very well in himself, he has a good draw in five and if he puts his best foot forward he could run a big race.‚"