Darkness Falls moved into contention for next year’s Triple Crown by narrowly defeating odds-on favourite Desert Castle in the Group One Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday. A victory in the series would make him the first Triple Crown winner since Nijinsky in 1970.
The colt’s performance combined speed with stamina. He won over nine furlongs at Leopardstown last month before dropping back to seven furlongs for the Dewhurst, which trainer Aidan O’Brien described as a major test. O’Brien said the horse had the quality to handle longer distances.
The result revived comparisons with Darkness Falls’s sire, Camelot, who won the 2,000 Guineas and Derby in 2012 but was narrowly beaten by Encke in the St Leger. The defeat prevented Camelot from completing the Triple Crown.
Betting markets immediately offered him at 12-1 for next year’s series, while he became the early favourite for both the 2,000 Guineas and Derby at about 3-1.
The Dewhurst is the latest indication that Darkness Falls may possess the range required for the three-race challenge, although the result establishes only that he has won the opening event in his preparation for next season.