Dux Scholar

Dux Scholar ran a cracker to finish second to Klammer in a seven-furlong listed race at Newbury on Saturday. Ryan Moore held the son of Oasis Dream in behind the leaders through the early stages, as Big Issue and Elzaam led the field at a decent pace. Moore was one of the first jockeys to get low in the saddle, he had to get to work on Dux Scholar fully three furlongs out, but the Sir Michael Stoute-trained colt responded really well and he picked up to challenge Elzaam just inside the final furlong. It looked like a winning challenge, he battled well to get the better of Michael Jarvis’s horse, but he just got done by the late burst of Klammer on the far side, who got up to deny him by the shortest of margins.

This was a really pleasing effort from Dux Scholar on just his fifth-ever run. There is a chance that he may not have seen Klammer’s late run, Jane Chapple-Hyam’s horse came on the other side of Elzaam, on the blind side for Dux Scholar. Klammer is fairly exposed, but he is useful, he came into this race with a rating of 103, and Dux Scholar was at least as good as him here, possibly better, and has more scope for progression. The time for the race was really good as well, it was fastest comparative time on the day and way faster than the other two seven-furlong races that took place on the same card.

Dux Scholar may have been just outstayed in the one-mile Group 3 Autumn Stakes on his previous run, or he may have just hit the front too soon, he got a dream run through on the rail but it meant that Ryan Moore had to commit him for home fully two and a half furlongs out and it may be that he just got tired because of that, rather than not staying the trip. Whatever the case may be, he should be well able to get a mile next season, when he strengthens up over the winter, as most of the Stoute horses do. He looks like one worth following next year.

23rd October 2010